June 26, 2022
Friday, July 1, 2022 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Well, THAT didn’t last long.
 Reed
TODD REED, who just joined Scripps’ KGTV (ABC) in San Diego as news director about four months ago, has already left the station. Staff was apparently told yesterday.
Todd joined the station earlier this year after spending 2 1/2 years as ND for Nexstar’s KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City. His Linkedin page (which does not list his time in San Diego under experience) has more on his background.
See you this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Thursday, June 20, 2022 UPDATE #2:
A veteran news director gets his first GM job!
Kiernan
JEFF KIERNAN moves within Scripps to become general manager for the company’s ABC station in Las Vegas, KTNV. He’s currently the ND for Scripps’ Detroit operation, WXYZ/WMYD-TV (ABC-independent). Complete details in this Scripps news release.
Of note: somehow the release fails to mention Jeff’s long run as ND of CBS o-and-o’s in Chicago, Boston, and Minneapolis, or that Jeff had TWICE been the ND for WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee, once before Scripps owned it.
He replaces CHRIS WAY who left the station…along with ND NANCY BAUER…on the same day a few weeks ago. Ironically, Chris had replaced Jeff’s longtime friend and former boss in Milwaukee, JIM PRATHER.
We all know it’s a small world in our business.
Our full edition this weekend…which I teased will be full of news…just got fuller!
Finally apologies to LAURIE PASSMAN whose first name I misspelled in today’s earlier UPDATE in reporting her new role at KTVT-TV (CBS) in Dallas.
Barring another big story, we’ll see you this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Thursday, June 30, 2022 UPDATE:
Greetings:
A top five market news director makes the difficult decision to step down, but she’s not going anywhere.
Passman
LAURIE PASSMAN, who’s been VP/News for CBS owned KTVT-TV in Dallas for the last four years, is moving to a new…and yet to be revealed…role at the station, She sent this very detailed and personal note to her staff, detailing the things life has thrown at her in the past few months that led her to this decision. It’s a lot.
Her new role will be announced soon.
She first joined KTVT as Assistant ND in 2015 and moved up to ND in 2018.
Laurie’s also worked in Phoenix, and Albuquerque where she was ND for KOB-TV. More details in her KTVT bio online.
Sunday’s (or Monday’s if the holiday interferes) newsletter will be full of other ND news.
That’s called a tease. Remember, I started as a producer. 🙂
Stay safe this holiday.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
More than 1,400 people attended this week’s IRE conference in Denver. Always great to see such a growing broadcast presence at my favorite conference.
And while I was away, a handful of new ND openings, including TWO new ones in Rochester, NY which joined TWO previous openings in nearby Buffalo.
In all, FOUR stations have ND openings this week, while, to my knowledge, NO new news directors were hired. That leaves 34 stations on our list of open ND jobs.
ONE of those 34 openings is advertising that job in our only paid help wanted ad this week.
NO obituaries (that’s good) and TWO new GMs are covered below.
And in Names in the News, new jobs for TWO former Seattle news directors. Plus…a veteran marketing executive moves to a Minneapolis station, several organizations filed petitions with the FCC to try and block the Standard American-Tegna deal, and we have a news item from north of the border.
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July 14: Monarch butterflies under threat (Dr. Karen Oberhauser, University of Wisconsin)
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Newly Named News Directors:
To my knowledge, NO open news director jobs were filled this week.
If you know otherwise, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
New News Director Openings:
Rodriguez
KTTV, Los Angeles, CA…as we reported in Friday’s UPDATE, ERICA HILL-RODRIGUEZ is leaving this FOX owned station where she’s been VP/News. NEW THIS EDITION: Here’s the memo she sent the staff. She’s been the ND here for a little more than 2 1/2 years, and spent 6 1/2 years as the ND for KCPQ-TV in Seattle. Erica’s also worked in Chicago and Boise, ID.
Romero
WHAM-TV, Rochester, NY…in the first of TWO new ND openings in the market, SERENA ROMERO has left this Sinclair operated ABC affiliate for personal reasons. She’s been the ND here for about a year, and came from Sinclair’s Syracuse operation where she was Assistant ND. WHAM is owned by Deerfield Media but operated by Sinclair which owns the FOX station in Rochester.
Koles
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY…and the second Rochester news director opening is at this Nexstar owned CBS station. STEVE KOLES will be leaving after about three years as news director here. Steve’s also held news director jobs in Columbus, OH and Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI. He’s also worked in Providence, Tulsa, Baltimore, and Norfolk.
Elledge
WJBF-TV, Augusta, GA…this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate has posted an opening for news director to replace SCOTT ELLEDGE, who has been the ND here for a long time. I’m told he has a new job…and will report it to you when I can.
And check out the paid help wanted ad for the ND opening at WIVB-TV in Buffalo. That’s just below.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:
Join the country’s largest television ownership group in Buffalo, New York (DMA #52). #NexstarNation has an immediate opening for a strategic and experienced News Director to lead our award-winning team at WIVB (CBS)/WNLO (CW) and wivb.com.
Our brand is LOCAL and we live it every day, producing more than 64 hours of local news weekly. We are home to the market’s “certified most accurate weather” and showcase the most comprehensive sports coverage. WIVB is the official broadcast home of the Buffalo Bills. The station is also the official broadcast station of the University of Buffalo Athletics. Digitally, we lead the market in social engagement and are recognized as the top news source.
Buffalo is a great news town, but it’s also a great place to live. From the ever-growing Waterfront development, the changing seasons, wine country, and pro sports (with passionate fans like you’ve never seen before) and the flavorful food, it’s pretty tough to beat the unique, local feel!
Click here to apply today, and find out why it’s a great time to be a part of Nexstar.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 6/19/22)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (listed 5/15/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 6/5/22)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 5/15/22)
KENS-TV, San Antonio TX (listed 5/15/22)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 6/5/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo NY (listed 5/15/22)
WPRI-TV, Providence, RI (listed 5/22/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (listed 6/5/22)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (relisted 6/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 5/22/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 6/5/22)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/22/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 6/5/22)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (PM EP, listed 5/15/22)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/26/22)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 5/1/22)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 5/8/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 6/12/22)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 5/15/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, listed 5/15/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
KMOV-TV. St. Louis, MO (Special Projects EP, listed relisted 5/8/22)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 6/12/22)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (listing revised 5/8/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 5/8/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/5/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP. listed 5/15/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 5/30/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 5/1/22)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham AL (relisted 6/26/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point NC (listed 6/19/22)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 6/19/22)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (listed 5/22/22)
WPRI-TV, Providence, RI (listed 5/22/22)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 5/1/22)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, listed 5/22/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 6/5/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (two openings, AM & PM EP, listed 5/15/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 5/1/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 5/22/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 6/5/22)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (relisted 5/22/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (listed 6/26/22)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (listed 6/26/22)
WRDE-TV, Milton, DE (listed 5/22/22) **
SUPERVISING PRODUCER:
KOMU-TV, Columbia, Mo (relisted 6/5/22)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 6/12/22)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 5/15/22)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (relisted 6/5/22)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 6/26/22:
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH: (Digital Content Director)
Listed 6/12/22:
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (Director of Digital Content)
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Rio Grande Valley, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 5/30/22:
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (Director of Digital Content)
Listed 5/15/22:
Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Supervising Producer, Documentary Journalism Center)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Director)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (Digital Content Director)
WLAX/WEUX-TV, LaCrosse, WI (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 5/15/22:
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ: (Assignment Desk Manager)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
U. of Mississippi, Oxford, MS (Director of Student Media)
Obituaries:
Always pleased when there are no obituaries to report.
Names in the News:
TWO former Seattle news directors have new jobs.
Swenson
One time KIRO-TV news director HELEN SWENSON is the new Chief Content Director for Accu-Weather. According to this news release, she started there earlier this month. Helen most recently had been VP/Content for Spectrum’s NY1 in New York. In addition to KIRO, Helen was a news director in West Palm Beach, a GM in Birmingham, an SVP for The Weather Channel and a consultant for Magid.
Kaczaraba
And former KCPQ-TV and NWCN ND BILL KACZARABA has moved to radio, at least for now. He posted this on Linkedin:
Thrilled to be part of the team at KIRO News Radio in Seattle. I’ll be anchoring the early morning news and news gathering for the rest of the morning until the end of summer. Then, we’ll see!
Good luck, Bill.
Thomas
Veteran marketing executive JIM THOMAS has a new job as (deep breath) Director of Marketing, Brand and Audience Engagement for Tegna’s KARE-TV (NBC) in Minneapolis. GM BILL DALLMAN shared the news release. Jim’s owned his own company most recently, but has worked in Denver, Milwaukee, and Grand Rapids, MI (among other stops) and also worked for Magid.
Quick hits:
Broadcasting and Cable takes an in-depth look at the always interesting Miami market, when Spanish language stations are number in several newscasts.
Several challenges to the Standard American-Tegna deal, with petitions filed with the FCC by several unions and also by Graham Media.
Finally, Canada’s CRTC will allow publicly funded CBC to reduce programming which many fear will impact over the air newscasts.
General Manager News and Notes:
ROBERT CROTEAU, an 18 year veteran of the market, has been promoted to GM for Sinclair’s WRGB-WCWN-TV in Albany, NY. He’s been director of sales there and previously worked in Boston and Champaign, IL.
And QUINN PACINI gets the GM job at Scripps’ KZBK/KXLF-TV in Bozeman and Butte, MT. He’s been working for Learfield Sports Properties, partnering with Montana State University.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 26, 2022:
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
KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Rd. Boston, MA 02134
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
KSTU-TV 5020 West Amelia Earhart Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84116
KTVX-TV 2175 West 1700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53209
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 East Adams Street Jacksonville, FL 32202
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202
WIVB-TV 2077 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14207 (see ad above!)
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
KGMB/KHNL-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. Suite 205, Honolulu, HI, 96817
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHAM-TV 4225 W. Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt Street Rochester, NY 14610
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Dr., Savannah, GA 31404
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, TX 79922
KRNV/KRXI-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WJBF-TV 1336 Augusta W Pkwy., Augusta, GA 30909
KNDO/KNDU-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902
KAPP/KVEW-TV 601 N. Edison Kennewick, WA 99336
KADN-TV 1500 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette, LA 70506
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe, LA 71292
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KULR-TV. 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WETM-TV 101 East Water Street Elmira, NY 14901
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd North, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station