November 10, 2024
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 UPDATE:
A veteran broadcaster is leaving his current role at the end of the month.
Hair
PRINCELL HAIR has been the President of Allen Media Group for the last two years. Today’s news of his departure was released during a call with some (or perhaps all) of the company’s 20+ local stations.
I’ve reached out to Princell for details but have not yet heard back.
His background is extensive and includes networks and local stations (he’s a three time local news director as well.)
And that career history is well detailed on his Linkedin Page.
I expect to have more details on this…and, of course, all the week’s news…in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, November 11, 2024 UPDATE:
Greetings:
It is perhaps noteworthy that on this Veteran’s Day, a veteran news director is announcing his retirement.
Varner
KIRK VARNER told his staff in today’s morning meeting that he would retire at the end of January after almost six years as news director of KSTP-TV, the Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate in Minneapolis.
Here’s the note he sent to the staff afterwards explaining the timing of his decision AND his future plans.
Kirk’s history in news management is both long and varied, overseeing local stations, cable operations, and even ESPN’s SportsCenter. That history is detailed in both his LinkedIn profile AND his KSTP biography.
No successor was named.
And while we on the subject of Minneapolis, my apologies for an error in reporting the next career step of former WCCO-TV General Manager SUSAN ADAMS LOYD. In some versions off the newsletter. I reversed her middle and last name. Apologies to her, and to you.
We’ll see you this weekend with our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Almost no activity this week as far as news director changes…but we do have lots of other items.
While there were NO new ND’s named and NO new openings, we do have a paid ad for a job which has been open for a few weeks. That’s below.
No changes mean our list of open ND jobs remains at 39.
But there’s lots of interesting stories in Names in the News, including…but NOT limited to:
Who The Wall Street Journal says was the real loser on election night.
Big changes for some Gray stations in Minnesota.
A longtime ND and corporate executive has retired.
And if there’s anyone left who cares about good grammar, a story which will appeal to you.
We have a detailed obituary for a one-time Pittsburgh ND whose passing we reported a few weeks ago.
And a former two-time GM in large markets is off on a new adventure.
All that and more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
As best I can tell, there were no new news directors named this week.
New News Director Opening:
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, Montana…it is not a new opening (we told you a few weeks ago that CHRIS AVERY was leaving to return to Salt Lake city as the Assistant ND for sister-Sinclair station KUTV) but Sinclair is now running a paid help wanted ad for the job which should attract candidates who love the outdoors. See that ad just below.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, NBC Montana:
Would you like to see mountains on your way into work, or the northern lights on the way home? Maybe run late because a herd of Elk blocked your commute?
NBC Montana is seeking an experienced, hands-on news leader with strong multi-platform skills and a bold style to lead one of the strongest local newsrooms in the country.
Our mission is to produce impact stories with a distinctive focus on accountability reporting.
Check it out and apply by clicking here.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 9/8/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 9/22/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (relisted 10/13/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, listed 9/29/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 9/15/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/29)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 9/29/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 9/29/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 9/15/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (listed 9/29/29)
KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT (relisted 9/2/24)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 11/3/24:
KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)
Listed 10/27/24:
WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)
Listed 10/20/24:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 9/29/24:
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital Director)
Listed 9/22/24:
KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital Director)
Listed 9/15/24:
Spectrum News, Austin, TX (Managing Director)
Obituary:
Anne L.
We now have much more information about the death of longtime Pittsburgh newswoman ANNE LINABERGER. We told you a few weeks ago that the former KDKA-TV News Director had died, and we now have many more details about her life and career. Anne died October 25 of liver failure at the age of 62.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
You may think you know who won and lost the election(s) on Tuesday, but The Wall Street Journal suggests the main stream media may be the big loser.
Big changes at Gray TV owned stations in Minnesota where KEYC-TV in Mankato is ‘partnering’ (their words, not mine) with co-owned KTTC-TV in Rochester. Bottom line: morning and noon newscasts on KEYC will originate in Rochester. And be sure to read this article to learn what will happen to Bandwagon, described as the nation’s longest running local polka music show.
Trauring
Old friend BRIAN TRAURING has retired. He’s spent the last six years in VP roles for Lilly Broadcasting, and before that spent 16 years as ND for WTVG-TV in Toledo, which was owned by Lilly for much of that time. He’s also been an ND in Knoxville, Augusta, GA, and Steubenville, OH. Many of you know Brian from his long service on the RTDNA Board. He sent me this note about his future plans.
Brian will be replaced as corporate ND for Lilly by SCOTT MacDOWELL, currently the ND at Lilly’s WICU/WSEE-TV in Erie, PA.
One other Lilly note: In other Lilly news, JOHN CHRISTIANSON has been elevated to CEO from his current role as COO. More details here.
Stock
STEPHEN STOCK is joining Gray’s WVUE-TV (FOX) in New Orleans as Chief Investigative Reporter. He’s worked in San Francisco, Miami, and Orlando and most recently as the National Investigative Correspondent for CBS News and Stations before cutbacks at CBS eliminated his role. He replaces LEE ZURIK who moved to corporate as Senior VP/News Strategy and Innovation.
Finally, longtime Cincinnati media writer JOHN KIESEWETTER has a gripe which will resonate with the dwindling number of people who care about grammar and good writing.
General Manager News and Notes:
SUSAN ADAMS LOYD, a one-time GM in Minneapolis and Jacksonville, is leaving her current job at CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Minneapolis and North Dakota. She detailed her plans in this post on Linkedin.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 10, 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
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, Texas 77057
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N.Seattle, WA 98109
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WATN-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WIS-TV 111 Bull St. Columbia, SC 29201
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St, Charleston, WV 25301
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46808
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
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
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
WJET/WFXP-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WTRF-TV 96 16th St, Ste 2, Wheeling, WV 26003
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, 340 W. Main St. Missoula, MT 59802 (see ad above!)
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Ave N., Billings, MT 59101
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
**: Spanish language station