May 19, 2019
Friday, May 24, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
A veteran news manager takes his SIXTH job (by my count) with the same company.
And he’s never had to move.
Mahaney *
CHIP MAHANEY is leaving his job as news director for Scripps’ WCPO-TV in Cincinnati to take a new job at corporate in a talent development role. Here’s what he posted on Facebook this morning.
Chip’s been ND for that ABC affiliate for about 2 1/2 years. As I mentioned above, he’s had a number of jobs with Scripps…and other companies. And as you would expect from someone with a digital background, he’s done a nice job of listing all those jobs on his Linkedin page.
Even readers with basic math skills can count that this is the SECOND news director move after the end of the rating period, though both have involved promotions. We’ll tally the rest of them up in our full newsletter later this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
(* The picture above is from Chip’s trip to Indianapolis last December to watch his beloved Dallas Cowboys get shut out by the Colts, 23-0. Not that I’m rubbing it in or anything….)
regards,
Rick Gevers
Thursday, May 23, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
For the second time this week, a veteran newswoman is being promoted to station manager at her station.
Mungo
This time it’s CAROLYN MUNGO, who’s been ND for Tegna’s WFAA-TV (ABC) in Dallas since early 2012. Her promotion was announced along with one for the station’s general manager, BRAD RAMSEY, as detailed in this press release.
Carolyn came to WFAA from Houston, where she was the Assistant ND for Fox owned KRIV-TV. Before that, she was a reporter at WFAA’s sister station KHOU-TV in Houston. Carolyn also worked as a reporter in Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Austin, TX.
We’ll have more in our full newsletter later this weekend (probably on Monday) as I’ll be attending my 33rd Indianapolis 500 (NBC at noon/eastern, 9:00 AM Pacific.) on Sunday.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, May 19, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Two developments for you in this afternoon’s UPDATE.
LaPorte
As we hinted in last night’s full newsletter, JOHN LaPORTE’s new job was announced within the hour. He’s headed to Cox Media’s KIRO-TV (CBS) in Seattle as News Director.
We told you last Wednesday…and again last night…that John was leaving Tribune’s WITI-TV (FOX) in Milwaukee after more than eight years there. He’s also been an ND for another Milwaukee station, and for stations in Eau Claire and Palm Springs. At KIRO, he replaces JAKE MILSTEIN who left the station last July after four years as news director and ten at the station.
Our second development finds a longtime news director moving up at her station.
Hanson
COREY HANSON is being promoted to station manager at Meredith’s KPTV/KPDX-TV (FOX). Her move is one of THREE station managers promoted at Meredith’s station today as you’ll learn in this news release.
She’s worked there for 14 years, the last ten as ND. She’s also been Creative Services Director, and EP. And Corey owns the Portland hat trick, having worked at two other stations there.
Finally, I still have tickets for Sunday’s Indy 500 available. If you’re interested, please email or call.
Have a great week.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
For the second consecutive week, TWO new news directors and TWO new openings. Consequently, our list of stations with ND openings remains at 30.
ONE of those openings is featured in our Paid Help Wanted Ads below.
In Names in the News (and other stuff) section, we’ll provide the answers to a question I’m asked regularly, And we’ll tell you about a new job in a top three market for a former St. Louis news director, and we’ll share details about an honor for a former Wisconsin ND.
All that and more after this shameless self-serving item.
Due to a friend’s illness, I have four tickets left for next Sunday’s Indy 500. They’re along the front straight and behind the pits. (Picture below.) Selling for face value which is $120/each. It’s a bucket list event if you’ve never been. If you’re interested, email me at rick@rickgevers.com.
Newly Named News Directors:
Brinkman
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg/Greenville, SC…KYLE BRINKMAN moves within Nexstar to become news director for this CBS affiliate. He’s spent the last 2+ years as ND for the company’s WCBD-TV in Charleston, SC, and earlier was ND for just over 2 1/2 years for Nexstar’s KLFY-TV in Layayette, LA. He’s also been an ND in Pensacola, FL, and Chattanooga, and worked in Baltimore, Norfolk, Columbus, OH, and Huntsville, AL. Here’s the memo from GM GARY SOAPES at WCBD-TV announcing his departure. Kyle replaces KIRK VARNER who left in March to become ND for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Mishkin
WGME-TV, Portland, ME…another inter-company promotion sends JAY MISHKIN to this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate as news director. He’s been the morning EP for Sinclair’s WJLA-TV in Washington for the past two years, after almost 20 years in a variety of roles at WUSA-TV in Washington. Jay’s also worked in New York City and Rochester, NY. Ironically, WUSA is where the last ND for WGME is now working. KATHY REYNOLDS left in January to become Story Telling Team Leader at that CBS affiliate.
And apologies to ANDY PARAS whose name I misspelled last week in reporting his move to WFFT-TV in Ft. Wayne, IN as news director.
New News Director Openings:
LaPorte
WITI-TV, Milwaukee, WI….we told you Wednesday night in an UPDATE that JOHN LaPORTE was leaving this Tribune owned FOX affiliate for a new job to be announced soon. I believe that will happen tomorrow and we’ll let you know when it does. GM CHUCK STEINMETZ sent this note to the staff. John’s been ND here for more than eight years, worked as an ND for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, as well as stations in Palm Springs and Eau Claire, WI.
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC…as noted above, KYLE BRINKMAN is being promoted from this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate to be ND at the company’s WSPA-TV in Spartanburg-Greenville, SC. The full story is above.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Enterprise Executive Producer, WRAL-TV Raleigh, NC:
Capitol Broadcasting Company is seeking a seasoned, detail-oriented journalist and manager to lead a growing team of WRAL-TV and WRAL.com enterprise reporters who cover a wide variety of beats, including investigative, state government, consumer, and education.
The Enterprise Executive Producer will be involved in the evolution of stories, from assignment through publication and broadcast, using appropriate tools of digital and television storytelling to maximize impact. This EP will interact with other managers, looking for opportunities to collaborate on coverage, and with our Creative Services staff to ensure effective promotion.
A mastery of broadcasting storytelling and writing in AP style for web, a multi-platform vision, and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in newsroom management are required.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of working with new technologies, especially in the gathering, synthesis and design of enterprise and data journalism.
All candidates must apply online by clicking here:
News Director, KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO:
KRDO, NewsChannel 13, in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado, is looking for a News Director.
Responsibilities include overall supervision and development of the news department staff, providing direction in story selection, story-telling and coverage. Candidate must possess proven ability to manage, coach, critique and motivate the news team to make our news programs the best and first choice for local news, information, weather and sports in our market.
Experience with brand building, applying news research and managing the station’s news website is also required.
The successful candidate will lead, manage, hire, train, supervise and motivate news department personnel; must be experienced in preparing operating budgets and be prepared to be involved in news department capital planning.
Candidate must have excellent news judgment, be thoroughly versed in digital and social media have a passion for breaking news and weather with strong organizational and leadership skills.
Listening and relating to the staff is an important component we are looking for. We have a wide variety of experience levels here so teaching, training and nurturing are required.
Applicants require a 4 year degree in journalism, broadcasting or related field, previous experience as a newsroom supervisor, excellent time management skills, effective communication skills, an ability to work in a high stress, fast paced environment with multiple daily deadlines, good organizational skills, and excellent news judgment.
Please apply by clicking here.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/5/19)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 3/17/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/12/19)
WTLV-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 5/5/19)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 4/21/19)
KARK-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 4/14/19)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 5/5/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 4/21/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 5/12/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 3/24/19)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 5/5/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 3/31/19)
Nexstar Washington Bureau, Washington, DC (relisted 5/5/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 3/31/19)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (2 openings, listed 5/5/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 4/21/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 5/12/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, new listing this week)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, relisted 5/5/19)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 5/5/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 3/31/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 5/5/19)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 5/5/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, 5/5/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 5/12/19)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (Dayside EP, listed 5/5/19)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 3/31/19)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, relisted 5/12/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, listing modified 5/5/19)
KEYT-KCOY-KKFX-TV, Santa Barbara, CA (listed 3/31/19)
WQOW-TV, Eau Claire, WI (listed 3/24/19)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (relisted 3/31/19)
Other News Management Openings:
New Listings This Week:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer, see ad above!)
WKRN-TV, Nashville TN (Digital Content Manager)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (PM Content Manager)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (Digital Executive Producer)
Listed 4/21/19:
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer)
Listed 3/31/19:
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 3/24/19:
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News (and other items):
People regularly ask me what the average tenure is for a news director. I don’t know, but old friend BOB PAPPER answers that question and many others in this survey, his 25th annual research project for RTDNA in conjunction with Hofstra University (and Ball State before that). (Don’t let ‘research project’ scare you…it’s only two pages!)
Lupenski
TIFFANI LUPENSKI is headed to Chicago’s WBBM-TV as Director of Content. She’ll report to VP/News Director JEFF HARRIS. Tiffani tells me she’ll be responsible for leading the newsroom’s multi-platform content operation on a daily basis. Tiffani most recently was the ND for KSDK-TV in St. Louis, a job she left last March after less than 18 months. She’s also been an ND in San Diego and Portland, OR.
Zelich
Long-ago WSAW-TV (Wausau, WI) News Director MARK ZELICH was honored with the Mitchell V. Charnley Award from the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. This story from his old station tells us that he kept a scrapbook with notes on everyone who once worked for him, and there’s some pretty impressive names in that book.
General Manager News and Notes:
No changes this week, to my knowledge.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 19, 2019:
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
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
KNBC-TV 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento, CA 95818
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97201
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KULX-TV 314 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S. Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St. Rochester, NY 14610
KRDO-TV 399 S. 8th Street Colorado Springs, CO 80905 (see ad above!)
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WICU/WSEE-TV 3514 State St. Erie, PA 16508
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WGFL-TV 1703 NW 80th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
WJMN-TV 3165 Wright Street, Suite 101 Marquette, MI 49855
**: Spanish language station