March 5, 2023
Greetings:
Up, Up, and Away…that’s both the title of a hit song by the 5th Dimension…and the count of open news director jobs as there are FOUR new openings this week, THREE in top ten markets.
With NO jobs filled, the count of open ND jobs raises to 36.
We have ONE Paid Help Wanted ad this week…for a Digital ND job at a family owned operation in sunny Florida.
We have an obituary for a two-time long ago Pittsburgh ND.
In Names in the News, the VP of Content (think corporate ND) for a family owned media company is leaving, and we’ll tell you about a reunion at America’s first black owned TV station.
There’s a big change at Hearst, as the current TV President moves to President of the entire company and is replaced by a one-time local TV sportscaster (who was COO of Hearst TV).
We’ll also tell you about TWO new GMs for small market Texas stations.
And there’s just ONE week left to selection Sunday for the NCAA basketball tournament. I would advise you to bet against my picks.
Newly Named News Directors:
Again this week, no jobs were filled. If I’ve missed something, please let me know!
New News Director Openings:
Renee W.
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA…Monday’s UPDATE reported the departure of RENEE WASHINGTON after almost four years at this NBC o-and-o. She was the Assistant ND here before being bumped up, had held the same AND job at KABC-TV in Los Angeles, and had worked at ABC owned stations in Philadelphia and New York, as well as stations in Cleveland, Tampa and Indianapolis.
Luviano
WZDC-TV, Washington, DC…JANETTE LUVIANO is leaving this Telemundo/NBC owned Spanish language station. She’s worked there for eight years, the last 5 1/2 as ND. More on her background via her Linkedin page. I’m told she’s starting a consulting business, working with universities to empower young journalists.
Rigby
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA…our Thursday UPDATE told you that JENNIFER RIGBY is leaving this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. She’s joining Gray’s in-house research and consulting unit as a Senior News Consultant. The move reunites Jennifer with the head of that unit, CHRIS ARCHER: they worked together at SmithGeiger. Jennifer’s been at WXIA for eight years and has had ND jobs at three other stations, and worked in others as you’ll learn here.
Dodd
WMBD/WYZZ-TV, Peoria, IL…LAWTON DODD has left this duopoly after one year as a news director. He previously spent 22 years as ND for Hearst’s KSBW-TV in Salinas/Monterrey, CA…and seven months as ND for KVAL-TV in Eugene, OR. He’s also worked in Norfolk and Wichita. Nexstar owns WMBD (CBS) and operates WYZZ (FOX).
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
Digital News Director, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers/Naples, FL:
If you’re looking for a digital content leadership role without the layers of big corporate interference WINK-TV is your next career highlight.
This unique position as Digital News Director will allow you to build your team and work in an environment where content is taken seriously and local ownership allows you freedoms you don’t find with large media groups.
Surrounded by three television stations, 14 radio stations, a high-end luxury magazine and a Southwest Florida business publication you will have a dominant media and journalism empire to play in.
Don’t forget your beach attire when you join us in Ft. Myers/Naples!
Click here to learn more about this unique opportunity!
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WTVD-TV, Durham, NC (listed 1/29/23)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/12/23)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 1/15/23)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 2/19/23)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
News 12 Long Island, Bethpage, NY (listed 1/15/23)
News 12 Edison, NJ (Spec. Projects. Prod., listed 1/15/23)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listing revised 1/8/23)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM/Special Projects EP, listed 2/19/23)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 1/29/23)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/5/22)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/12/23)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 2/25/23)
KXTV. Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/23)
WTVD-TV, Durham, NC (listed 1/29/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 1/22/23)
WRTV, Indianpolis, IN (relisted 1/15/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 1/22/23)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/15/23)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (relisted 1/15/23)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City (listed 2/25/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 1/15/23)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 1/15/23)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital EP, listed 2/12/23)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/23)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 1/15/23)
WWL-TV, New Orleans (AM EP, listed 1/15/23)
WNYT-TV, Albany, NY (listed 2/12/23)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 2/25/23)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 2/12/23)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (PM EP, listing modified 1/15/23)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 2/19/23)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 2/19/23)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (relisted 1/15/23)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 2/19/23)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (listed 1/22/23)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, relisted 1/15/23)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (relisted 2/19/23)
KETK-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 1/29/23)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (listed 1/29/23)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/25/23)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (relisted 1/15/23)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (listed 1/22/23)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/15/23)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 3/5/23:
WINK-TV, Ft,. Myers, FL (Digital News Director, see ad above!)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital News Manager)
Listed 2/5/23:
Gray Television, Remote (Producers for Magazine Program)
Listed 1/9/23:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Livestream Producer)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Assignment Desk Manager)
Obituary:
Williams
VICTOR BYRON WILLIAMS, or BY as everyone called him, died last Sunday, February 26th. He was 94 and succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. He twice held the news director’s job for Pittsburgh’s WPXI-TV during a long career there. Many more details about By’s life and career in this obituary.
Names in the News:
Spessard
TODD SPESSARD, Vice President of Content for Oklahoma’s Griffin Communications, will leave the company this week after 12 years. He first joined at ND for Griffin’s KWTV in Oklahoma City. Told told me the decision was mutual and he is already looking at other opportunities. Full disclosure: Todd worked for me at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and went on to several other ND jobs as described on his Linkedin page.
Recently, alums of the country’s first black owned television station, WGPR-TV in Detroit, gathered for a reunion. Details in this story.
General Manager News and Notes:
Significant changes atop the leadership ranks at Hearst. JORDAN WERTLIEB has been upped to President of Hearst from his current job as President of Hearst Television. MICHAEL HAYES replaces Wertleib as Presdient of Hearst TV. A former TV sportscaster, Hayes is currently COO for Hearst TV.
Argo
LOGAN ARGO has been promoted to general manager for Sinclair’s KVII-TV in Sherman, TX. He had been the sales manager there since 2018.
ROBERT DYER moves within Tegna to become general manager for the company’s KCEN/KAGS-TV, NBC affiliates across several markets in Texas. He’s currently the marketing director for Tegna’s WCNC-TV (NBC) in Charlotte.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 5, 2023:
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
KNBC-TV 100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg 2120 Universal City, CA 91608
KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
WMAQ-TV 454 N. Columbus Dr. Chicago, IL 60611
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324
WZDC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016
KIRO-TV 2807 3rd Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
KMGH-TV 123 E. Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr. Columbus, OH 43215
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KVUE- TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St. Greenville, SC 29609
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic, PA 18507
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK 74129
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Rd. Madison, WI 53719
KNWA-TV 609 W. Dickson St. Suite 300, Fayetteville AR, 72701
KHGI-TV 1078 25 Road Axtell, NE 68924
WMBD/WYZZ TV 3131 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia MO 65201
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa TX 79763
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
WGFL/WNBW/WMYG-TV 1703 NW 80th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
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 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
KNOP-TV 402. S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station