June 9, 2022

Sunday Jun 9, 2024

Greetings:

A busy week with lots of changes to tell you about.

FOUR new news directors.

TWO new openings (one under unfortunate circumstances).

And that means 42 stations are looking for news directors.

We have TWO obituaries, one for a veteran ND turned GM turned corporate executive, and another for a marketing executive who worked for both CBS and NBC.

THREE stations are getting news GMs, the Murrow award winners are announced, and more tributes to NDs who are leaving their stations.

And you won’t want to miss a tribute not FOR a news director but BY a news director for an anchor with whom he used to work. Check out Names in the News.

By the way, the RTDNA convention starts later this week in Milwaukee. It’s my 44th consecutive convention…every one since 1979 except for two that were cancelled…in 2001 and 2020, for obvious reasons.

I hope to see you there.

Newly Named News Directors:

Mague

WRC-TV, Washington, DC…this NBC o-and-o promoted ANTHONY MAGUE to news director. He’s been the Managing Editor there. He will report to VP/News MIKE GOLDRICK who sent this note to the staff. In that note, you’ll learn that Anthony has had several jobs since moving to DC from Orlando, where he worked for six years at WESH-TV, Hearst’s NBC station there.

Philbrick

KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT…after six years as the Assistant News Director, IAN PHILBRICK has been promoted to news director for this Sinclair Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. Ian’s had a number of jobs during his career: his Linkedin page tells the story. At KUTV, Ian replaces MIKE FRIEDRICH who left earlier this summer to become news director for WRAL-TV in Raleigh.

Villarreal

KWKT-TV, Waco, TX…SYLVIA VILLARREAL returns to Waco to be the next news director for this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate. She has been the special projects producer for the company’s Houston station, KIAH-TV. But she is the former ND for the Scripps station in Waco, KXXV-TV. At KWKT, she replaces DEAN WETHERBEE who just left the station a few weeks ago (Check out Names in the News below for more on Dean’s farewell).

KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID…SETH RANDAL returns to this News Press & Gazette operation as ND. He was the first producer when the station debuted a morning newscast in 1996. Since then…well, I’ll let you read his lengthy Linkedin profile.

New News Director Openings:

Lunn

KTBS-TV, Shreveport, LA…BILL LUNN resigned this week during an ongoing investigation by Shreveport police into possible inappropriate communication with a juvenile. To its credit, the station reported the story here. And the local newspaper had this coverage. Lunn joined the station as its assistant news director in 2019 and was promoted to ND last year. He earlier spent nine years as a primary anchor for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis.

Tamez

KMID/KPEJ-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX…there’s a news director opening at this Nexstar operated duopoly. My records show that CARLOS TAMEZ has been the ND here for less than a year. Nexstar owns KMID (ABC) and provides services to Mission owned Fox affiliate KPEJ.

Interview an expert:

Climate change and American lobsters with Dr. Damian Brady (U. of Maine)

Thursday, June 13 (2-4 p.m. EDT) – Zoom

As climate change warms the ocean, American lobsters are moving to cooler waters. The center of lobstering—a half-billion-dollar-a-year industry—continues to move farther north, and to deeper water, than in the past.

Dr. Brady can discuss:

Why the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than the global average;
How the geographic range of lobsters has shifted in recent years, and how lobster boat captains have adapted;
Where researchers predict lobster populations will move to, in the near and long terms;
How population movements could affect the availability and/or price of lobster; and more.

REGISTER TODAY

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 4/14/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 4/21/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 6/2/24)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 4/14/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 5/19/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relished 4/14/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (listed 4/28/24)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (listed 4/7/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24)
WFMZ-TV, Allentown, PA (Philadelphia market, listed 4/7/24)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/19/24)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 5/19/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 5/5/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 5/19/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 5/19/24)
KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 4/7/24)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (Digital EP, listing modified 4/21/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (listed 5/12/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 4/14/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 5/19/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 5/27/24)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 5/5/24)
KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 6/2/24)
WTNH-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 5/5/24)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 4/7/24)
WSPA/WYCW-TV, Spartanburg, SC (Lifestyle EP, listed 5/12/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 4/7/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, listing revised 4/7/24)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (PM EP, listed 4/7/24)
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM (Nightside EP, listed 4/21/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/19/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (two openings, listing modified 6/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 6/9/24)
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX (relisted 5/5/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, relisted 4/28/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24)
WKBT-TV, LaCrosse/Eau Claire, WI (listed 4/7/24)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJYZ-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 6/2/24)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 6/9/24)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 6/2/24;

WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)

Listed 5/5/24:

WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (News Assignments Manager)

Listed 4/28/24:

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (Digital Director)

Obituaries:

Godsey

WAYNE GODSEY, who worked as a news director, general manager, and corporate executive for a number of stations and groups, died last Sunday (June 2nd) at the age of 77. He lost a decade long battle against cancer. He was an ND in Charlotte and Milwaukee, a GM in Milwaukee (two stations), Kansas City, and Albuquerque, and EVP of Pulitzer Broadcasting. Complete details on a life well lived in this obituary.

Kreiner

JEFF KREINER, who held executive marketing positions at two networks, CBS and NBC, died in late May. He was in Las Vegas for a shoot for LMAO Productions for which he was the executive producer. Jeff also taught at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Learn more about Jeff’s life and career in this obituary.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

RTDNA finally finished releasing the winners of the annual Edward R. Murrow awards. The complete list is here.

Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF details changes in the news management structure at Graham Media’s KPRC-TV (NBC).

We have several more farewell tributes to news directors who left their jobs at the end of May.

TIM RYAN left Tegna’s KUSA-TV in Denver after a long career spread over two stints. Maybe that’s why the station posted TWO pieces about his departure. We’ll call them Ryan #1 and Ryan #2!

We promised above more on DEAN WETHERBEE‘s farewell from Nexstar’s KWKT-TV in Waco Here’s what the station aired.

And this farewell is not ABOUT a news director but one done very well by a former news director, as MIKE RAUSCH put a lot of effort into this piece about DON ALHART who retired after 58 years anchoring at WHAM-TV (formerly WOKR-TV) in Rochester, NY.

General Manager News and Notes:

THREE new general managers were named this week.

Grisham

In Indianapolis, CHARLIE GRISHAM was tapped to run Scripps’ ABC affiliate, WRTV. Regional VP KATHLEEN CHOAL told the staff. He’s been the GM at WSIL-TV in Carterville, IL, for three years, and worked as a GSM in St. Louis and San Diego. He began his career as a weathercaster for several local stations. Charlie replaces LANA DURBAN-SCOTT who left in March after six years as GM and 31 with Scripps.

Heinrich

Another Charlie lands another GM job as CHARLIE HEINRICH has been promoted to general manager for Standard Media’s WLNE-TV (ABC) in Providence, RI. He’ll continue to serve as director of sales, a job he’s held since joining WLNE last year. He’s been a GM in Kansas City, Greenville, SC, and Ft. Myers, FL. More in the company news release.

Malloy

Tegna has promoted MICAH MALLOY to general manager of its two NBC stations in Maine, WCSH-TV in Portland and WLBZ-TV in Bangor. He’s been the director of sales for both stations since 2016 and served as local sales manager for three years before that. Micah replaces BRIAN CLIFFE who is retiring after 34 years in Maine broadcasting and 42 years in the business.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 9, 2024:

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

News 12 Bronx/Brooklyn, 930 Soundview Ave. Bronx, NY 10473
WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
WLS-TV 190 N State St. Chicago, IL, 60601
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Dr. Dedham, MA 02026
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
WRC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson Street Portland, OR 97201
KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
WZTV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville, TN 37228
Spectrum News Texas (based in Austin, TX)
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit Kansas City, MO 64108
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk VA 23510
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WHAS-TV 520 W. Chestnut St. Louisville, KY 40202
KITV 801 South King Street | Honolulu, HI 96813
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WTOC-TV 1511 Chatham Center Dr. Savannah, GA 31405
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX. 79761
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX, 79765
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
WGEM-TV 513 Hampshire Quincy, IL 62301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

**: Spanish language station

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