May 8, 2016
Greetings:
An interesting week. There are THREE new news director openings…all created by NDs taking new jobs, TWO of those in smaller markets. And those THREE people are the only ones we know taking new ND jobs this week, thus leaving our count of open ND jobs at 29.
TWO of those 29 openings are among the FIVE Paid Help Wanted ads in this week’s edition, including a new ad for a Managing Editor’s job in Houston.
We have details about the retirement of a longtime news director turned station manager in Phoenix, a story about Hearst naming a fellowship after FRED YOUNG, and a new man at the top of AP’s ENPS.
All that and more below…
New News Director Openings:
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX…as we reported earlier this week, BOB MORFORD is leaving this FOX owned station to become ND at WAFF-TV in Huntsville, AL. There’s a good reason behind that, which we’ll explain below. Bob was ND here for about three years and was the Assistant ND for about a year before being bumped up.
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN…in another move we shared with you earlier this week, ELBERT TUCKER is leaving this CW affiliate after a year to return to his native Tennessee as ND for sister Media General-about-to-be Nexstar owned WKRN-TV in Nashville. We’ll explain more on his move below.
WLTZ-TV, Columbus, GA…ANDREA CLENNEY is leaving this SagamoreHill owned station to return to Gainesville. More on that below, too. She joined this NBC affiliate late in 2014.
Newly Named News Director:
Tucker
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN…as noted above, ELBERT TUCKER is moving back to Tennessee to become the ND for this ABC affiliate. (It’s currently owned by Media General but Nexstar is in the process of buying that company.) Elbert told me the move brings him closer to both his and his wife’s families. He’s been the ND for sister Media General station WISH-TV in Indianapolis for the past year, has been an ND in Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati, and has also worked in Birmingham and Chattanooga. At WKRN, he replaces MATTHEW ZELKIND who left the station in March after 17 years as ND in two different times.
Morford
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL…BOB MORFORD joins this Raycom Media owned NBC affiliate as ND. Bob told me he’s happy to join Raycom and to be a short drive from his wife MARGARET, who lives in Nashville. (Both Bob and Margaret are Nashville natives but have commuted for most of their marriage.) WAFF GM VANESSA OUBRE told the staff in this memo. He’s been ND for KRIV-TV in Houston for the past 3+ years, and has also been an ND in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati (two stations), Knoxville, and West Palm Beach, and also worked in Columbia, MO. He replaces ADAM HENNING who spent seven years here and is now ND at WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach.
Clenney
WGFL-TV, Gainesville, FL…ANDREA CLENNEY returns to Gainesville as news director for this Sinclair operated CBS station. She had been ND at competitor WCJB-TV for three years before leaving in late 2014 to become the news director for WLTZ-TV in Columbus, GA. She’s a former ND in Greenville, NC, and Wilmington, NC, spent more than ten years as the Senior Morning Producer for KMGH-TV in Denver, and has also worked in Orlando, Tampa, Austin, Syracuse, and Augusta, GA.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Managing Editor, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC Channel 2, the Graham Media Group owned/NBC affiliate in Houston is seeking a Managing Editor for the News Department. We are looking for a manager who is aggressive, competitive, and wants to win.
Houston is a growing city and we need a Managing Editor who can help develop stories that are compelling to our diverse audience. We need someone who can showcase stories, has good story ideas, knows how to leverage web and social media to help drive ratings, and gets the importance of engaging storytelling, standups and live shots.
Our Managing Editor needs to react to breaking news and weather quickly and be willing to scrap stories the team has been working on all day to get it covered.
You will organize and coordinate assignment desk staff, reporters, photographers and multi-media journalists to facilitate daily news coverage for multiple platforms.
You will also be responsible for the generation of story ideas and will prepare and lead the daily editorial meetings. This position will work closely with the assistant news director and executive producers on coverage and journalistic balance of stories and assist with the work schedules of reporters and photographers. Additional responsibilities include supervising and scheduling the assignment desk personnel and taking an active role in planning in-depth series and special coverage on air and online.
To apply, please send resume to:
Rhonda LaVelle
News Director
KPRC-TV
8181 Southwest Freeway
Houston TX 77074
Or via email to: rlavelle@kprc.com
News Director, WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI:
WXYZ 7 Action News in Detroit is looking for an experienced, aggressive, innovative News Director to lead a large, skilled team of journalists in one of America’s great news markets. WXYZ and sister station WMYD air 9.5 hours of local television news each weekday, and we produce content 24/7 on digital web, mobile and social channels as well. We have the experienced, locally-connected staff and the resources to win on all platforms. Our team wins awards for our journalism and our community outreach.
WXYZ is one of the oldest TV stations in the country, with deep roots and connections to Detroit and all of southeast Michigan. We serve our community through our Community Action Team and our Call for Action consumer team. We also produce Detroit2020, which is our initiative to unify and inspire change, and make Detroit a better place to live, work, and raise families. And as part of downtown Detroit’s resurgence and our commitment to our city, we’ve opened a brand-new downtown streetside studio.
WXYZ is proudly owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, one of America’s largest and most innovative local media companies.
Our next News Director will create and lead strategic plans, execute day-by-day coverage on all platforms, manage a large and talented staff, collaborate with station and company leadership, and grow our audience to better serve our community. We need a team leader who can inspire others to do their best work, every day.
Are you ready for this adventure? If so, click here and tell us!
News Director, KFVS-TV, Cape Girardeau, MO:
KFVS-CBS/WQWQ-CW seeks a News Director. Raycom’s CBS affiliate in Cape Girardeau, MO (DMA 82) is a market leader with the best content ownership group in the business.
Cape is located 100 short miles from St Louis – a fantastic place to raise a family and build your career with a great company. Our ND was promoted to a flagship station within Raycom so it’s a great opportunity with a department that’s got it headed in the right direction. We are looking for an aggressive, hands-on news/digital leader who knows how to use every tool available to craft exceptional content.
This News Director will lead our award-winning team and be a leader who is passionate, creative and collaborative. The perfect candidate will empower team members to define and deliver compelling content on all platforms. We are looking for a hands-on team leader not afraid to coach individuals to the next level. Job responsibilities include managing daily news content, constant recruiting and leadership, innovating ways to build our digital and social platforms, budget administration and strategic planning.
Applicants should have five years’ experience as a News Director, Assistant News Director or Executive Producer, demonstrated show producing experience and ability to manage a large newsroom with 60+ employees and 33 hours of live newscasts per week. Degree in Broadcast Journalism preferred.
Qualified applicants, apply by clicking here. Attach your resume with cover letter, which should include your vision for making KFVS viewers the most well-served in the market.
No phone calls please. EOE-M/F/D/V
Executive Producer, KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA:
Cox Media Group- KIRO TV is seeking an Executive Producer.
The Morning Executive Producer is in command of KIRO’s fastest growing newscast. This person manages what we’re putting on-air and on-line overnight and into the morning. The EP manages a team of TV and digital producers, writers, anchors, reporters, photographers, editors, and directors. The EP crafts the look, manages story count, flow and placement of every story. They set the coverage expectation and manage repetition. The EP manages our position and brand on a daily basis in every show and in online posts. The EP manages breaking news and the speed and style in which we get it on the air. The person in this job must be a quick-moving innovator who can lead the team in a changing media environment. The Morning EP assists in all aspects of leading and managing a team such as establishing schedules, goal setting, and employee relations.
JOB DUTIES:
90% – Newscast, Digital & Brand Management
10% – Administrative
JOB TASKS:
Click here to learn about the job tasks and responsibilities.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
*B.A. Degree in Journalism, Communications, or other field of study preferred
*3 or more years of newsroom experience required
*Major market experience preferred
Please apply online!
Producers, KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO:
HOT SHOT PRODUCERS NEEDED!
If you are an experienced, aggressive, and competitive newscast producer and a passionate journalist to boot – we have opportunities for you to join our team AND live and work in one of the most desirable cities in the country.
KDVR/KWGN is Tribune Media’s duopoly in Denver – producing more than 12 hours of TV news every weekday with several more hours on weekends – and we are growing.
Interested? Email our Assistant News Director right away at Dana.Dieterle@kdvr.com – but ONLY if you fit the description above – AND possess excellent news judgment, top-of-the-line writing and communication skills, and contemporary production techniques.
Five years of producing experience and a college degree are preferred.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 3/6/16)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 3/6/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/27/16)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 3/27/16)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 4/16/16)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 4/2/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted this week)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 2/7/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 4/24/16)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 3/13/16)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 5/1/16, see ad above!)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (Digital EP, relisted 3/27/16)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/20/16)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 4/16/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (PM EP, relisted 3/13/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (two positions, AM EP, Dayside EP, relisted 5/1/16)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 5/1/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listed 4/2/16)
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM EP, listed 4/10/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 4/2/16)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (relisted 5/1/16)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (Morning EP, relisted this week)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted this week)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Dayside EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 3/20/16)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 3/4/11)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 3/20/16)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 3/4/11)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 4/24/16)
Names in the News:
Casey
Longtime news director MARK CASEY, who’s been at KPNX-TV in Phoenix since 1999, is retiring from the station after the May book. He sent this note explaining the move. Mark joined KPNX in 1999 as ND, was promoted to Station Manager in 2012 and has been acting ND since SANDRA KOTZAMBASIS left in March. He’s been a news director in a number of other stations: his complete background is on his Linkedin page.
Young
Hearst has named a journalism fellowship after its former VP/News, FRED YOUNG. Fred spent (I believe) his entire career at Hearst, starting at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh as a go-fer, rising to news director and then general manager before moving to the corporate staff. One of the truly good guys in our business, he retired in 2008 but has kept busy as you’ll learn in this article.
The Associated Press has named BRIAN HOPMAN VP/GM of ENPS. More in this official AP news release.
General Manager News:
It’s back to WYFF-TV and Greenville, SC, for JOHN HUMPRHIES. He’ll be the new GM for this NBC affiliate. He’d been the sales manager there before moving to WGAL-TV in Lancaster as GM in 2012. More from the WGAL website.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, May 8, 2016.
If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St, Sarasota, FL 34236 (Tampa market)
KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77027
KPNX-TV 200 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
WXYZ-TV 20777 West 10 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48037 (see ad above!)
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84110
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave. West Hartford CT 06107
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave. Austin, TX 78757
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Road Roanoke, VA 24017
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604
KFVS-TV 310 Broadway Cape Girardeau MO 63701 (see ad above!)
WCIA-TV 509 S Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
WVNY/WFFF 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
KBOI-TV 140 N 16th St, Boise, ID 83702
WWTV/WWUP 22320 130th Ave, Tustin, MI 49688
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd, Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 S Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KAUZ/KSWO-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51108
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
* Spanish language station