May 9, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Two multi-time news directors got new jobs today.
Davis
TRACY DAVIS moves within NBC to become the next news director for WVIT-TV in Hartford. She’s currently the Assistant ND for NBC’s Chicago o-and-o, WMAQ-TV. Here’s the news release announcing her hire. Tracy’s a former news director at WDJT-TV in Milwaukee and WFFF/WVNY-TV in Burlington, VT. She replaces JANET HUNDLEY who left in April after 2 1/2 years as ND.
Movesian
Another promotion within the same company finds KARIN (cq) MOVESIAN returning to Missouri as the next news director for Meredith’s (and likely soon to be Gray’s) KCTV (CBS). Here’s the staff memo from GM CHARLIE HENRICH. She’s leaving Meredith’s (also soon to be Gray’s) WNEM-TV (CBS) in Flint-Saginaw, MI, where she’s been the ND for the last three years. Before that, she was the ND at KSDK-TV (Tegna/NBC) in St. Louis, where she had earlier worked for KMOV-TV. Karin’s extensive work history is here. At KCTV, she replaces SCOTT FLANNIGAN who left the station in April after nine months as ND.
It’s a busy start to the week. Barring further updates, we’ll see you next weekend with our full report.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Another busy week, as we have THREE new news directors and TWO new openings, leaving our always unofficial count of open ND jobs at 36.
THREE of those 36 openings are among our FOUR Paid Help Wanted ads. That fourth ad? It’s a rare ad for a GM opening…check the and all our help wanted ads below.
We also welcome a new advertiser, longtime agent KEN LINDNER, who is promoting a new book on career choreography, which he says is applicable to people in any industry. That ad is just below.
I am always grateful when there no obituaries. We have a few GMs on the move, and it’s award season as the Peabody Awards announce nominees and RTDNA issues a mind boggling 750 Regional Awards in electronic media.
Details on those items and much more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Cavanaugh
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL…our Monday UPDATE told you that KERRI CAVANAUGH will be the next ND for this CBS o-and-o. More from the station’s website. She’s currently a consultant for Magid, but has previously been an ND in Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, MI, and for WSFL-TV in Ft. Lauderdale before it shut down its news department. Kerri’s also worked in Tampa and Tuscaloosa, AL. She replaces LIZ ROLDAN who left for an ND job at KHOU-TV in Houston.
Maxwell
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI…DANI MAXWELL has been promoted to news director for this now-owned-by-Quincy-Media-but-in-the-process-of-being-acquired-by-Allen-Media © ABC affiliate. She’s been at WKOW for more than nine years, first joining as an anchor and executive producer for the station’s morning newscast before moving into management, first an content manager and then Assistant News Director in 2018
Reams
Dani replaces ED REAMS who’s been the ND since 2014. Ed is going to sister now-owned-by-Quincy-Media-but-in-the-process-of-being-acquired-by-Allen-Media © station WREX-TV in Rockford, IL, where he’ll be the interim GM. Ed tells me: It will be up to Allen Media to determine if it is a permanent post. Check out our GM section to learn where current WREX GM JOSH MORGAN is headed. And here’s the note sent to the staff about Ed’s arrival.. Ed began his career on-air before moving into management. More on his Linkedin page.
Wilson
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX…WES WILSON will be the new ND at this Tegna owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the note from GM BRUCE CUMMINGS. Wes is currently the Digital Managing Editor and EP at KXAN-TV (Nexstar-NBC) in Austin. He’s also worked for cable news operations in Austin and North Carolina. At KIII, he replaces NIA TOWNE who was promoted in February to become ND for sister Tegna station KXTV in Sacramento.
New News Director Openings:
Garber
KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT…Tuesday’s UPDATE told you that MIKE GARBER is leaving this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate to become Director of Content for Sinclair’s “The National Desk. Mike’s move is part of an expansion of The National Desk into evenings. He’s been at KUTV for four years, has been an ND in Dallas, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, FL, and Columbia, SC and began his career as a sports producer.
Hancock
KMIZ-TV, Columbia, MO…this News Press and Gazette owned ABC affiliate is searching for its next news director. CURTIS HANCOCK has left the station after six years as news director in his second stint here. He’s also worked in San Antonio, Tulsa, and Springfield, MO. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad just below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
General Manager, WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA:
Lockwood Broadcast group is seeking General Manager candidates for WCAV and WVAW in Charlottesville, VA. The successful candidate will oversee three of the market’s “big four” networks (CBS, ABC, FOX) in the picturesque home to the University of Virginia.
The General Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic and operating plans for the station along with being responsible for the human, financial and physical assets of the station while maintaining company policies and federal and state regulations.
We are looking for someone with a strong record of success in broadcasting including developing and managing budgets who can also provide leadership while holding station teams accountable for the attainment of station goals.
Candidates should possess superb communication skills and be self-motivated and be able to manage and control station revenue across multiple platforms and have the ability to build relationships with advertisers and the community.
Candidates aspiring to grow their career with a solid broadcast group and work in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in a newly built studio facility, should send their resume to awanveer@lockwoodbroadcast.com.
Lockwood Broadcast Group is an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. Pre-employment drug test and general background check in accordance with local, state, and federal laws are required.
News Director, KMIZ-TV, Columbia, MO:
KMIZ-TV in Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo., has an immediate opening for a news director. This is your chance to work for a small private company committed to doing news the right way and live in one of the nicest cities in the Midwest.
The ABC 17 News team is a well-oiled machine driven by an aggressive, focused brand. We invest in top tier consulting, research and talent development. The company provides the staff, resources and support to succeed in this competitive market. We need a hands on news director who is crazy about coaching young staff members.
Columbia offers a tremendous quality of life. It’s located two hours away from both Kansas City and St. Louis. There’s a terrific trail system here and tons of options for the active lifestyle. We have the draw of big time college athletics, the popular culture of world renowned film and music festivals plus the cultural opportunities a major university provides. It goes without saying, dining and nightlife are top notch for a city this size.
The News-Press Gazette Company (NPG) is family owned with a steep tradition in serving its community through various newspaper and broadcast holdings. It is a diverse company with an eye to the future that includes maintaining its portfolio of 10 television markets. It is large enough to provide its stations the latest industry services to keep them competitive but small enough to offer a great degree of autonomy at its individual stations.
News Director, WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY:
Ever dreamed of building your own news department from the first hire up?Well, stop dreaming and get ready for the opportunity of a lifetime!
Fox 56 in Lexington, Kentucky, has an immediate opening for an experienced News Director who will help us launch full blown news. We’re talking new set, all new technology… the works!
This is a rare opportunity for a News Director who possesses a passion for local news with network level standards. The ideal candidate will be an expert recruiter, a visionary, and a problem-solver. This job will require someone who is detail-oriented but also can look ahead.
If you love BREAKING NEWS & WEATHER, digital, and a challenge- this might be the best ad you’ve ever read.
News Director, KETK-TV, Tyler, TX:
Heads up! Exceptional opportunity alert!
KETK in Tyler, Texas has an immediate opening for a News Director. Join the LARGEST TV ownership group in the country- #NexstarNation – in the Lone Star state (Market 110.)
The last News Director is moving to a news director’s job at a Top 20 station in the company. Not too shabby.
The ideal candidate will be a dynamic coach and leader who loves to collaborate with the team. We are all about local news. We tell the stories that matter to our viewers, keep them safe, and are always up for a good football game.
If you love the idea of belonging to a community, rather than just covering it – this could be the exact job you are looking for…
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/4/21)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (new listing this week)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (listed 4/25/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (listed 4/18/21)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 3/28/21)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (new listing this week)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 4/25/21)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 4/18/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Proj./Investigations, revised 3/21/21)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted this week)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listing revised 5/2/21)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 3/28/21)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 3/28/21)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (Lifestyle show, relisted this week)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 4/18/21)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital EP, listed 3/28/21)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (new opening listing revised this week)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 3/28/21)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (listed 5/2/21)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Digital EP, listed 4/11/21)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 5/2/21)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted 3/21/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 4/18/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 4/25/21)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 5/2/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, listing revised 3/28/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 3/14/21)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 4/11/21)
WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/28/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 4/18/21)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 4/25/21:
Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content
Listed 4/18/21:
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (Digital Content Director)
Listed 3/28/21:
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL. (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News:
It’s award-announcing season, apparently.
FOUR local stations were among the 60 Peabody Award Nominees. Congratulations to Tegna stations KING-TV (Seattle), KARE-TV (Minneapolis), KXTV (Sacramento) and Scripps’ KNXV-TV (Phoenix). The complete list of nominees is here.
And RTDNA gave more than 750 Regional Edward R. Murrow awards to 350+ stations in all 50 states and four countries. Check out the full list here.
Lastra
KPRC-TV, Graham Media’s NBC affiliate in Houston, has filled its EP/Investigations and Special Projects opening by hiring ANA LASTRA. She’s been an investigative producer for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis where she helped oversee the coverage of the GEORGE FLOYD murder, for which the station won a DuPont Award. Here’s the staff email.
General Manager News and Notes:
Alford
Nexstar has named ANDY ALFORD President of Broadcasting. He’ll replace the retiring TIM BUSCH. Andy joined Nexstar when Nexstar bought Media General. He had been GM for Media General’s WFLA-TV in Tampa. More in the company’s news release. Andy has also been a GM in Atlanta and Albany, NY, and has worked in Orlando, FL, Syracuse, NY and Rochester, NY.
Morgan
Earlier, we teased an update on JOSH MORGAN who is leaving his job as GM for WREX-TV (Quincy but being bought by Gray) in Rockford, IL. He’s been named Director of Digital Media at WGCL-TV (Meredith but being bought by Gray) in Atlanta. Josh, a former ND at WREX, told me he’s making the move for family reasons. His wife, KRISTIN CROWLEY, recently took an investigative reporter position at WXIA-TV in Atlanta.
Two other GM moves:
BILL JORN is retiring as general manager for Nexstar’s KVEO-TV in Brownsville, TX. He’s been the GM at KVEO since 2006 and had earlier served as a GM at stations in McAllen and Harlingen, TX.
Moore
And ELLIOTT MOORE will be the next General Manager for Tegna’s KYTX-TV, the CBS affiliate in Tyler, TX, Elliott’s been with Tegna since 2018, first as sponsorship and project manager for WFAA-TV, (ABC) in Dallas and more recently as the local sales manager for KSDK-TV (NBC) in St. Louis. He’s also worked for the CBS and Univision stations in Dallas. More details in the Tegna news release.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 9, 2021:
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
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
WCBS-TV 530 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017
News Nation 2501 West Bradley Place Chicago, IL 60618
KTRK-TV 3310 Bissonnet, Houston TX 77005
KNXV-TV 515 North 44th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008
KING/KONG-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WBFF/WNUV-TV 2000 W 41st St., Baltimore, MD 21211
KUTV 299 South Main Street, Suite 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205
WTIC-TV 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, CT 06110
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr., Mobile, AL 36606
WDKY-TV 836 Euclid Ave. #201, Lexington, KY 40502 (see ad above!)
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd.. Charleston, WV 25301
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600 Columbia, SC 29201
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WHBF-TV 231 18th St., Rock Island, IL 61201
WFXG-TV 3933 Washington Rd., Augusta, GA 30907
KETK-TV 4300 Richmond Rd, Tyler, TX 75703 (see ad above!)
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Macon, GA, 31201
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac Michigan 49601
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th St., La Crosse, WI 54601
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia MO 65201 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
KBJR-TV 246 South Lake Ave., Duluth MN 55802
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd., Duluth, MN 55811
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KOSA-TV 4101 E 42nd St. Ste 107, Odessa, TX 79762
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack, Abilene, TX 79602
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101
WBKO-TV 2727 Russellville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
KSAN/KSLT-TV 2800 Armstrong St., San Angelo, TX 76903
**: Spanish language station