October 15, 2023
Friday, October 20, 2023 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Just a week after filling the last news director opening at a CBS o-and-o, a new one popped up today.
Baynes
MARY BAYNES has left CBS’s KOVR/KMAX-TV (CBS, obviously, and independent) after not quite 1 1/2 years as ND. She’d been the Assistant ND there for four years before her promotion in May 2022. It was her second time working at KOVR: she was a producer and EP there for four years before a four year stint as an EP at sister CBS stations KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles.
Mary also worked as a producer for KSBW-TV in Salinas, CA.
We’ll see you Sunday with our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
It’s a slow week for ND changes (with just ONE new ND and ONE new opening) but we’ll make up for that with some links to what I thought were pretty interesting stories in Names in the News (and other things!).
There are still 32 stations with ND openings.
We have ONE paid ad for an Assistant ND job at a network o-and-o.
ONE new GM to report as a former ND gets his second GM job, this one in a top 20 market.
For more than a year, you’ve seen ads from Sciline in these pages. If you don’t know Sciline, it’s offering an online Open House so you can learn more about its worthwhile offerings. That’s in the ad below.
A Mississippi station bids farewell to its ND after 35 years at the station, 14 as ND, and a Connecticut station gets a new assistant ND.
More details on those stories in Names in the News, along with these items teased above:
- What happened when NPR left Twitter? Not much.
- Nexstar released an interesting presentation for investors. We have the link.
- A North Carolina station hoped to make money in three years on a streaming product. They were wrong. It took three weeks.
Read on for more.
Newly Named News Directors:
Fernandez
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL…we were first to tell you (via our Wednesday UPDATE) that MIGUEL FERNANDEZ will be the next ND at this CBS o-and-o. It’s a return to WFOR for Miguel, who worked there for 22 years before a five year stint at the assistant ND at WLTV (Univision) in Miami. He replaces KERRI CAVANAUGH who stepped down in August while on leave for a personal matter. Kerri was ND here for two years.
New News Director Openings:
KNDU/KNDO-TV, Kennewick/Yakima, WA…these Cowles owned NBC affiliates are looking for a new news director. STEPHANIE ASHLEY has been the ND there for almost two years.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
Assistant News Director, KNBC/KVEA-TV, Los Angeles, CA:
NBC4 & T52 is looking for an Assistant News Director to lead the second largest duopoly newsroom in the country. The candidate will run day-to day editorial coverage for T52 and NBC4. The Assistant News Director must have strong news judgment and the ability to lead and inspire a highly talented news team. The job will require someone who is able to go beyond established goals and who will perform these functions within the context of the duopoly objectives, policies, and procedures. This position will report directly to the VP of News for T52 and NBC4.
Responsibilities Include:
Manage day-to-day coverage, major events, and breaking news across all NBC4/T52 broadcast and digital platforms
Implement strategies and tactics to increase ratings and performance
Oversees planning and execution of special projects coverage for the duopoly
Provides leadership to news professionals, driving culture of creativity and excellence in a multi-platform environment
Manage script approval process as delegated to individual managers
Ensures daily goals are communicated to the entire duopoly staff
Implements and has working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws impacting editorial operations
Enforces newsroom’s policies and procedures, including deadlines and style
Back-up for VP of News for T52 and NBC4, as needed
Qualification / Requirements:
Minimum 3 years experience as a Broadcast News Director, Assistant News Director or similar leadership role in a mid to large market
Minimum 5 years experience as a news manager
Bachelors degree in Journalism, Communications or equivalent work experience
Desired:
Bilingual – Spanish/English
Click here to learn more and apply!
SciLine “Open House” for local reporters 10/17/23: 1:00-1:30 Eastern
SciLine is hosting our first-ever “Open House” next week for reporters to meet our team and get a very quick rundown of our free services. Feel free to join and/or forward the opportunity to any journalist friends or colleagues who may be interested – we’re especially interested in connecting with reporters from local TV newsrooms.
Join us for a 15-minute run-through of SciLine’s free services and how to use them, including:
- Our rapid response “I need an expert” service that quickly connects you to knowledgeable, articulate scientist-sources on deadline;
- Weekly, broadcast-quality 1-on-1 Zoom-interview opportunities with diverse science experts;
- Monthly on-the-record expert briefings on science-based topics in the news; and
- Free professional development training opportunities—including tailored programming for individual newsrooms.
This short presentation will be followed by 10-15 minutes of open Q&A with SciLine’s Director and former longtime Washington Post science reporter, Rick Weiss, and SciLine’s Deputy Director and career science communicator, Becky Hazen.
Media Briefing:
Experts available for Zoom interviews:
- Oct. 16: Fall vaccines with Dr. Kawsar Talaat (Johns Hopkins U.)
- Oct. 19: Fall lawn care and leaf management with Dr. Susan Barton (U. of Delaware)
- Nov. 15: Modernizing the electrical grid with Dr. Joshua Rhodes (UT Austin)
Training opportunities:
- Nov. 8: Science essentials for reporters
- Dec. 6: Science essentials for news editors
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, arranges 1-on-1, broadcast-quality interview opportunities with articulate scientists. Reporters can book 15 mins with them via Zoom or request a SciLine interview clip for your use. SciLine also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KNBC/KVEA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/8/23, see ad above!)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (listed 9/3/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 8/20/23)
KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 8/20/23)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (relisted 9/10/23)
WNEP-TV, Scranton, PA (listed 8/20/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 8/20/23)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (listed 9/10/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 8/13/23)
WJHL-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (listed 10/1/23)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/10/23)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Special Projects EP, listed 8/28/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 8/20/23)
WSNN-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 10/8/23)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 8/20/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/6/23)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 8/20/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 10/8/23)
KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 9/10/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/10/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 10/8/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 9/10/23)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 8/20/23)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/10/23)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listing modified 9/17/23
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 8/20/23)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 8/20/23)
WTOL-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 8/20/23)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 10/1/23:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 9/10/23:
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 8/20/23:
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
Names in the News:
Kessie
After 35 years at the station, the last 14 as news director, BRAD KESSIE left Gray’s WLOX-TV in Biloxi on Friday. He discussed his tenure there during a station newscast. Brad’s off to Nexstar’s WOOD-TV (NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI, to be the next ND there.
MADELINE COWELL joins Tegna’s WTIC-TV in Hartford as Assistant ND. That’s the same job she held at WSYM-TV in Lansing, MI. Her background is here.
What was the impact when NPR abandoned Twitter? According to this study from Nieman Reports…not much.
Nexstar released its presentation to investors. There’s some interesting reading here.
WRAL-TV (NBC/Capital Broadcasting) in Raleigh launched WRAL NEWS + just over a year ago, hoping it would break even in three years.
It took three weeks. More in this story from TV Newscheck.
General Manager News and Notes:
Wieder
DOUG WIEDER will be the next general manager for Tegna’s Minneapolis NBC affiliate, KARE-TV. He’s spent the last four years as GM for the company’s WVEC-TV (ABC) in Norfolk, VA, where he served seven years as ND after joining the station as a producer in 2003. More in the Tegna news release. Doug replaces another former ND, BILL DALLMAN, at KARE. Bill left earlier this summer after two years on the job.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 15, 2023:
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
KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77027
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
WDIV-TV 550 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Doral, FL 33178 **
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Center Drive Charlotte, NC 28217
WRAL-TV 2619 Western Boulevard Raleigh NC 27606
WLOS-TV 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Rd. Schenectady, NY 12309
WATE-TV 1306 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1 Roanoke, VA 24019
WHNT-TV 200 Holmes Avenue Huntsville, AL 35801
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th Street Moline, IL 61265
KLKN-TV 3240 South 10th Street Lincoln, NE 68502 (Exec. ND)
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
WLOX-TV 208 DeBuys Road, Biloxi, MS 39531
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
WTOK-TV 815 23rd Ave. Meridian, MS 39301
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
KTVH-TV 100 W Lyndale Ave. Ste A. Helena, MT 59601
KNOP-TV 402 S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station