July 25, 2021
Thursday, July 29, 2021 UPDATE:
One of the more attractive large market news director openings on our list has been filled!
Cronan
MARGARET CRONAN returns to Hearst as she’ll join the company’s ABC affiliate in Boston, WCVB-TV as its next news director. All the details are contained in this story posted within the hour to the station’s website.
Remarkably, she will be only the EIGHTH news director in the station’s history.
Earlier in her career, Margaret was the ND for Hearst’s WBAL-TV in Baltimore as well as WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL.
Most recently, she was the VP/News for CBS’s KYW-TV in her native Philadelphia, and was one of the people who spoke to the Los Angeles Times about discriminatory practices at CBS’s owned station. The Times investigation led to the dismissal of owned stations division President PETER DUNN and DAVID FRIEND, who was VP/News for the o-and-o’s. (A subscription may be required to required to read that story if you have used you free views.)
Margaret has also worked in New York and Los Angeles and other markets, as you can read in the station’s story above. At WCVB, she replaces PAIGE HARRISON who has been promoted to VP/News for Hearst, replacing ANDREW VREES (himself a former WCVB ND) who was named GM of the company’s Manchester, NH, station, WMUR-TV.
More on this story and another busy week in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
News Director changes in TWO top 15 markets top this week’s newsletter, with ONE opening and ONE job filled in those large markets.
Overall, TWO new news directors with THREE new openings.
Our always unofficial list of open ND jobs edges upward to 39 with THREE of those openings among our FIVE paid help wanted ads.
For the second consecutive weeks, there are no obituaries.
We have a new report on the major changes at TWO CBS owned stations where the GMs were dismissed this week, while Nexstar promotes a GM to a corporate role.
We’ll tell you about news management changes at stations owned by Nexstar, Scripps, and Meredith, as well as an impressive new job for a former Boise ND.
All that and more as you read on.
Newly Named News Directors:
Rafael P-N
WRMD-TV, Tampa, FL…RAFAEL PEREZ-NARVAEZ will be the next news director for this Telemundo owned station. He’s been the assistant ND for Telemundo’s Boston station, WNEU-TV. In Tampa, he replaces RAIZA ICIARTE who is moving to Los Angeles as the executive producer for the Telemundo station there. She was news director here for six years and was an EP for one year before that.
Romero
WHAM-TV, Rochester, NY…SERENA ROMERO stays in New York state as she moves from Syracuse to become ND for this Sinclair operated (but owned by Deerfield Media) ABC affiliate. Here’s the note from GM CHUCK SAMUELS. She was the assistant ND for Sinclair’s Syracuse operation, has previously worked for NBC News, and in San Diego and Milwaukee. Serena replaces MATT MALYN who retired after eleven years as ND.
New News Director Openings:
Breon
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA…citing health reasons, ERIK BREON posted on social media that he and this FOX o-and-o have agreed to ‘mutually part ways’. You can see that post here. Erik began here in March, 2020, is a former ND in Tucson and Lubbock, TX, and earlier worked for KING-TV in Seattle for 12 years. He’s also worked in Dallas, Phoenix, and Spokane.
Heverling
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY…this Scripps owned ABC affiliate is looking to replace ROB HEVERLING. You learned here last week that Rob is returning to Duluth, MN, as ND for Hubbard’s WDIO-TV. He’d earlier been the ND for another Duluth station, as well as in Little Rock and Fayetteville. Most recently, he was the interim ND for Scripps’ WXMI-TV (FOX) in Grand Rapids, MI.
Golden
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH…CARYN GOLDEN has left this Cox Media Group owned CBS affiliate after almost three years as ND. She first joined the station in 1997 as a reporter, left for a year in 2003 for a non-TV job in California, and has held a variety of jobs since returning to WHIO in 2004, as you’ll see on her Linkedin page.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA:
TOP 10 OPPORTUNITY- Nexstar Media Inc.’s KRON 4 is seeking a news director to lead a team of top-notch journalists in San Francisco, Market #6 – a world class city and the 10th best place to live in the country, according to U. S. News & World Report.
The Bay Area’s Local News Station delivers the most news coverage in our DMA – over 120 LIVE hours – across KRON 4, kron4.com and KRONon, our 24/7 local news app.
The News Director will lead daily on-air and online news coverage; hire, train, and mentor producers, reporters and anchors; oversee special projects and execute day-to-day operations in the newsroom. Excellent time management skills, the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and working within a defined budget are key. Must be able to lead and motivate both experienced, seasoned pros and those who are new to the media industry.
The news director must have a track record of successful collaboration with department head peers and value the importance of community involvement. A degree in journalism, mass communications, or a related field is preferred.
Prior newsroom leadership experience is required.
News Director, KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN:
We’re looking for a dynamic newsroom leader to take our team to the next level.
KBJR Television in Duluth, MN seeks a News Director to grow our news team and advance our news products.
The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests.
Reporting to the General Manager, the News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.
A minimum of 3 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and needs, as well as sound journalistic principles. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic, ethical and logistical judgments.
If you have a passion for excellence and a burning desire to lead what can become the best local broadcast news operation in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, we want to hear from you.
Send your cover letter and resume to:
Todd Wentworth
246 South Lake Ave
Duluth, MN 55802
twentworth@kbjr6.com
Throughout QMI, positions are available for candidates with all levels of experience and the advancement you are seeking.
Visit https://quincymediacareers.com/ for links to all stations and opportunities.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
KBJR 6 & CBS 3 is an EEO/AA Employer
Assistant News Director, KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE:
Channel 8 News in Lincoln, Nebraska is looking for an ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR.
This is Big Ten Country and an affordable place to live with a high quality of life. Central location makes flying anywhere easy. It’s a smaller city but a good news market.
You must have an innovative spirit ready to mold to the changing landscape of local news. You bring ideas and solutions every day.
We are entering a new era of “Nebraska’s Trusted News Source” and I’m looking for the Clark to my Lewis to explore the possibilities here.
The Assistant News Director will run the day-to-day operations of the news team on broadcast, digital, and OTT platforms. The Assistant News Director in this newsroom is geared more toward the assignment desk and managing editor functions than EP duties but will include a mix of both.
Our news team is made up of journalists spanning the past four decades, from an anchor who just celebrated 25 years here to someone who’s starting their career next week. You should seamlessly be able to work with them all.
If you are interested in this rare opening, send your news philosophy, examples of your work, and resume to jhardy@klkntv.com.
No phone calls, please.
News Director, WREX-TV, Rockford, IL:
13 WREX is looking for a dynamic, innovative journalist committed to leading a group of talented journalists into the future of our industry.
Our news operation is content-focused and thrives off of journalists willing to think outside the box. We don’t just document what happened — we are storytellers.
WREX is committed to telling important, impactful stories that make a difference in our local communities. Our next news director must have a passion for seeking the truth and help identify important stories.
WREX has been named Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Assoc., Outstanding News Operation by the Illinois AP and the regional winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. We’re looking for a candidate who strives for excellence in everything they do.
Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The news director works closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.
A minimum of 4 years of TV news management experience and a degree in broadcast journalism is preferred. You must demonstrate a strong working knowledge of community issues and sound journalistic principles with fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.
If you have a passion for excellence, and a desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Rockford, Illinois, we want to hear from you.
Please send resume & cover letter to:
Ed Reams
General Manager
13 WREX
P.O. Box 530
Rockford, IL 61105
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 6/27/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 6/13/21)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/4/21)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 6/27/21)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21, see ad above!)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (listed 6/18/21, see ad above!)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (relisted this week)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, relisted this week)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/18/21)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/27/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 6/13/21)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 5/31/21)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 6/13/21)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (new listing this week)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro-High Point, NC (listed as 5/18/21)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/31/21)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 6/6/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/6/21)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital EP, listed 6/13/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, relisted 6/13/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 7/18/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (new listing this week)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listed 6/27/21)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 7/11/21:
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (Senior Manager of Investigative)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Real Time Desk Manager)
Relisted 6/27/21:
Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content
Listed 6/20/21:
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital Content Director)
Listed 5/23/21:
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI, (Content Manager)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News:
Keller
Family reasons have caused RON KELLER to leave Meredith’s KVVU-TV (FOX) as EP after just a few months on the job. He’s a former ND for KION-TV in Salinas/Monterey, CA.
KATHRYN HAVILLA returns to Michigan as an EP for Scripps’ WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids. She went to college at Central Michigan and most recently had been working for WIVB-TV in Buffalo.
There are some new news managers at Nexstar stations:
In Buffalo, NY, FRANZ ROSS has been promoted to executive producer at WIVB-TV (CBS). He had been the 11:00 newscast producer.
SUSAN MOORE joins WHNT-TV (CBS) in Huntsville, AL, as its new assistant news director.
RASHAD SNELL moves west to KTVX-TV (ABC) in Salt Lake City, where he’ll be the Digital Content Director. He’s held a similar job for the Alabama News Network in Montgomery.
Browning
Former (2005-2007)Boise, ID, news director MARK BROWNING has been named President of the Oregon Community College. Pretty remarkable story for someone who didn’t pursue his college education until he was almost 40, and now holds several advanced degrees and is about to get a doctorate. Learn more about his interesting story when you click here.
General Manager News and Notes:
Howell
Dalton
Our UPDATE earlier this week brought you details of the shakeup at two CBS owned stations, with JAY HOWELL being ousted at KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles and DEREK DALTON being shown the exit door at Chicago’s WBBM-TV. New this editon: Variety magazine’s reporting on the changes.
Romines
Nexstar has promoted RON ROMINES to Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. He’ll oversee a number of other Nexstar stations. Ron has a long list of management roles in our industry, most recently as GM of the company’s Charlotte operation, WJYZ/WMYT-TV. More details on his new job (and his old ones) in this news release.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 25, 2021:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
WCBS-TV 530 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019
KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 (see ad above!)
WCVB-TV 5 TV Place Needham, MA 02494
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court Greenville, SC 29615
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk VA 23510
WVTM-TV 1732 Valley View Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
WHAS-TV 520 West Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40202
WKBW-TV 7 Broadcast Plaza. Buffalo, NY 14202
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main Street , Dayton , OH 45409
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd.. Charleston, WV 25301
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KTAL-TV 3150 N Market St., Shreveport, LA 71137
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
WFFF/WVNV-TV 298 Mountain View Dr, Colchester, VT 05446
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac Michigan 49601
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
WTVM-TV 1909 Wynnton Rd Columbus, GA 31906
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103 (see ad above!)
KBJR-TV 246 South Lake Ave., Duluth MN 55802 (see ad above!)
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
WDTV 5 Television Drive. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WBKO-TV 2727 Russellville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
KSAN/KSLT-TV 2800 Armstrong St., San Angelo, TX 76903
**: Spanish language station