November 17, 2019
November 19, 2019 UPDATE:
There are THREE new news directors we’ll tell you about in this brief update.
McNamara
WDAF-TV (FOX/Nexstar) in Kansas City has hired SEAN McNAMARA as its next ND. Here’s the memo from GM TRACY BROGDEN-MILLER. Sean’s spent the last eight years as the Assistant News Director for Graham Media’s WKMG-TV (CBS) in Orlando. He’s been an ND three times before and began his career in newspapers. Sean replaces DANA McDANIEL who left this summer to become ND for KFMB-TV in San Diego
Lee
Another Nexstar vacancy has been filled as DAVID LEE moves from sunny Florida to chilly Green Bay, where he’ll be the next news director for WFRV-TV (CBS). David most recently was the news director for WTXL-TV in Tallahassee, FL, where he had THREE owners in just 5 1/2 years at that ABC affiliate. David began his career on-air before moving to management.
Sherer
Finally, we’re a little tardy in telling you that BRANDON SHERER started in October as the new ND for Morris Multimedia’s WWAY-TV (ABC/CBS/CW) in Wilmington, NC. He most recently was the ND for Spectrum’s Central North Carolina operation, and spent 13 years as the Assistant ND for WTVD-TV in Raleigh. Earlier in his career he was an ND in Cape Girardeau, MO.
I expect at least TWO more announcements this week and will bring them to you then.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
There’s just ONE new news director named this week, but we’re taking FOUR stations off our list of stations with open ND jobs. (You can read on to find out why.)
And there are THREE new ND openings.
All those changes reduce our list of open ND jobs to 25.
Some interesting items in Names in the News, including some new news managers in Indianapolis, an honor for a longtime Vermont newsman (and one-time news director) and we’ll tell you how eating 2,000 chicken wings led to a big weight loss for one news director.
And there’s one GM on his way out of his job after 22 years at the same Oklahoma station.
All that and more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Giesler
WJFW-TV, Rhinelander, WI…JERRY GIESLER is (as he told me) coming out of retirement to become the next ND for this Rockfleet Broadcasing NBC affiliate. He was encouraged to take the job by his former Magid colleague JOHN QUARDERER. John now serves as an advisor to the station after six years as ND there following 20+ years working for Magid. Jerry’s last gig was in Missoula, MT, but his background is wide and varied as his Linkedin page will attest. He replaces LANE KIMBLE. Lane left this summer to become the Assistant ND for KYTV in Springfield, MO.
We are removing the following stations from our list of ND Openings below:
WDAF-TV (FOX), Kansas City, MO. We expect an announcement there this week.
WFRV-TV (CBS), Green Bay, WI. We also expect an announcement there this week.
KVII-TV (ABC), Amarillo, TX. Our listing was wrong. The job is for a newscast director.
New News Director Openings:
Pederson
KTVE/KARD-TV, Monroe, LA…the search is on for a new news director here. KARD is a FOX affiliate owned by Nexstar, which operates Mission Broadcasting owned KTVE (NBC). ANDY PEDERSON has decided not to renew his contract and will leave when it expires. He’s been the ND here since February, 2017 and spent most of his career as a photographer. Andy’s station bio has much more.
Warner
KSWO-KAUZ-TV, Lawton, OK/Wichita Falls, TX…JAMES WARNER is off to Florida to become the Assistant ND for WOFL-TV, the FOX o-and-o. This is his second tour of duty for this operation. KSWO (ABC) is owned by Gray while, KAUZ (CBS) is owned by American Spirit Media which has an SSA with Gray. He’s also been an ND in Ft. Smith, AR, and Charleston, SC, and worked in Seattle.
Plyler
WDTV, Clarksburg, WV…ADAM PLYLER is moving from one Gray TV owned station to another as he joins WSAZ-TV in Huntington, WV, as Assistant ND. He’s been ND here since the summer of 2016. More details in this story from his alma mater. It’s Adam’s second time at WSAZ. He’s also worked in another station in the market and in Kingsport, TN.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director, KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA:
Are you an aggressive, seasoned producer, anchor or reporter with an unending passion for news?
KTIV, the #1 Station in Sioux City, Iowa seeks a career-minded journalist with strong leadership skills to join our award-winning team as an Assistant News Director. You will drive News 4’s editorial process, constantly guiding our multi-media journalists and producers to develop news content on all platforms.
This is a senior newsroom position, perfect for the aspiring news director. The successful candidate will have a four-year degree, preferably in broadcast news/journalism or related field and significant producing, writing or newsgathering experience in a commercial newsroom.
Send resume, news philosophy, cover letter and references to:
Keith W. Bliven, News Director
Email: kbliven@ktiv.com
Address: 2929 Signal Hill Drive, Sioux City, IA 51108
Executive Producer, WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL:
ABC7/WWSB in Sarasota, Florida, has a rare opening for Executive Producer in this paradise of a city. This job isn’t a day at the beach, however. We are going through a time of exciting change and transition.
We have the technology, tools, gear, cars, research, experience and work ethic to set new standards in dedication to covering the Suncoast community. We are looking for the hard workers, overachievers, innovative thinkers, hardcore journalists, and adaptable people who believe in delivering content in real-time on all available platforms. An investigative spirit is a big plus!
You’ll be the front line of this mission, helping recruit the best, implement strategic plans and hold people accountable day in and out, oversee elections & special projects and work with reporters and producers daily to elevate our content distribution.
3-5 years in a local television news market experience required, with at least 1-2 years in a management position. Must work well with independent tasks, but also thrive in a team environment.
Apply online at gray.tv/careers and search for Sarasota or WWSB.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown, MD (listed 11/3/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/10/19)
WACH-TV, Columbia SC (listed 11/10/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted this week)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/20/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (listed 9/15/19)
KXMA-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 10/20/19)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/20/19)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 11/10/19, see ad above!)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 10/20/19)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MMO (listed 10/20/19)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 10/20/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (new listing this week)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 9/29/19)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/20/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listing modified 9/15/19)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (2 openings, EP and Digital EP revised this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/29/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, listed 10/13/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 10/13/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 10/6/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 11/10/19)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/3/19)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (2 openings, EP & Digital EP, revised this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 10/27/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 11/10/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted 10/20/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 10/13/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted this week)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KNSD-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/13/19)
More News Management Openings:
New Listing This Week:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Content Manager)
Relisted 8/25/19:
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
Names in the News (and other items):
A number of management changes at WISH-TV (CW) here in Indianapolis, including an internal promotion to Assistant ND for a longtime Indianapolis newsman, and two new managers to the station. It’s all detailed in this news release.
Vetscher
TIM VETSCHER joins Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee as editorial director. No, he won’t do editorials but will oversee the station’s daily content. His first job was as a sports producer for WDJT-TV in Milwaukee. Most recently he was Senior Producer of In-Depth & Investigative Reports for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. There have been a number of stops in between, as you’ll see here.
Ledbetter
Congratulation to one-time WPTZ-TV (Burlington, VT) News Director STEWART LEDBETTER on his upcoming induction into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in December. Stewart’s a 35 year veteran of this NBC affiliate who spent most of the 90’s as ND there. He gave up the big office (okay, I’m assuming it a big office) to return to the street and anchor desk for the station. His station profile has more.
CHRIS BEST, news director for Nexstar’s WKRG-TV (CBS) in Mobile, has found an unusual route to an impressive weight loss. It involves about 2,000 chicken wings. More here.
Chris Best
General Manager News and Notes:
PAT BALDWIN is leaving Sinclair’s KTUL-TV in Tulsa at the end of the year. He’s been the GM for this ABC affiliate since 1997 and earlier worked in sales management in Little Rock.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 17, 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
KTTV 1999 South Bundy Drive Los Angeles CA 90025
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WVEC-TV 613 Woodis Ave Norfolk, VA 23510
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria Tulsa, OK 74105
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Rd NW, Roanoke, VA 24017
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Road Madison, WI 53719
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Road West Monroe, LA 71292
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WDTV 5 Television Dr, Bridgeport, WV 26330
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
**: Spanish language station