October 29, 2023
Greetings:
Our normal business shows TWO news director jobs were filled this week, while ONE new job opened up…or at least will by the end of November.
32 stations have news director openings by my count: TWO of those jobs are among our THREE paid help wanted ads below.
There’s ONE new GM to report, and a former ND turned GM makes another career shift and becomes an agent.
In our not-so-normal business, we have news about a big change coming to the iconic CBS On The Road segment. And who better to tell us about that change than STEVE HARTMAN? You’ll see his exclusive (the book has started, right?) video below.
Have a great week!
Newly Named News Directors:
Fernandez – Wische
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX…Tuesday’s UPDATE told you that AARON FERNANDEZ-WISCHE is heading down Southwest Freeway to become the ND for FOX owned KRIV-TV. Aaron’s been the Assistant ND for Graham Media’s KPRC-TV (NBC) in Houston for the last five years and has worked there since 2012. SUSAN SCHILLER preceded him at KRIV: she left in September after seven years. Houston blogger MIKE McGUFF has more. And Aaron’s background is here.
Kosin
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA…this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate has a new news director. It’s DAVE KOSIN who is currently the Assistant News Director at Nexstar’s WHTM-TV (ABC) in Harrisburg, PA. Dave’s also worked in Seattle and Albuquerque. WFXR GM BENJAMIN OLDHAM told the staff about its new boss. Dave replaces JOSH GOOD who left the station in September after not quite three years.
New News Director Opening:
Blegen
WFOX/WJAX-TV, Jacksonville, FL…LISA BLEGEN will leave this FOX/CBS duopoly after the November book. She explains why in this note to the staff. Lisa’s been the ND here since 2021 and has lots of experience as you’ll learn on her Linkedin page. WFOX is owned by Cox Media Group and is a (big surprise coming!) FOX affiliate, and provides services to CBS affiliate WJAX, owned by Hoffman Communications.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KDRV-TV, Medford OR:
Can you help make a news operation that’s already a dominant #1 even stronger? Allen Media’s KDRV-TV (ABC) in Medford, Oregon, is looking for a news director ready to meet the challenge. Our next ND will be a hands-on leader with a successful track record as a mentor and motivator. Great opportunity for an assistant news director, executive producer, managing editor, assignment manager, or senior producer to step up and lead a newsroom.
KDRV is located in the beautiful Rogue Valley near the Southern Oregon Wine Trail and is just a short drive away from great hiking, mountain biking, skiing, golfing, fishing, whitewater rafting, the Britt Festival’s concerts under the stars, and the Tony award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival. If you still need an occasional big city fix, then Portland and San Francisco are just a quick direct flight or a few hours’ drive away. Or visit redwood forest, Crater Lake National Park and the Oregon coast all in our coverage area.
All of this is available along with a competitive salary and benefits from a station that has been the ratings leader in the Medford-Klamath Falls market for more than thirty years.
If all of this sounds appealing, then click here to apply!
A PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG SCREEN IS REQUIRED along with a good driving record. Must possess or be able to obtain an Oregon driver’s license. KDRV-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Executive Producer, KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA:
NBC is looking for a dynamic leader who can effectively oversee dayside coverage and make editorial decisions for the owned station in Los Angeles. The ideal candidate will also be responsible for assisting with newsroom operations and supervising editorial content for multi-platform delivery. The candidate must have a critical combination of excellent news judgement and management skills. This position would report directly to the VP of News for NBC4.
Essential Responsibilities:
· Overseeing editorial coverage day-to-day including breaking news, ensuring it is competitive across all platforms
· Copy edits scripts for factual integrity and style
· Collaborate with newsroom leadership, other NBC Owned Television stations and NBC News for special events planning as well as day-to-day coverage
· Responsible for scheduling editorial staff to ensure proper coverage
· Participate in the performance appraisal process for assigned editorial staff in conjunction with the VP of News
· Participate in the NBC4 recruitment efforts and facilitate the newsroom orientation of new employees when needed
· Track market competitive trends, develop and implement show content and format changes, and articulate vision to employees
· Works with Creative Services to craft promotions that attract a wide audience
Basic Qualifications:
· Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism or related field, or equivalent work experience
· Minimum 5 years of experience working in news management or 7 years of main show producing in a top 10 market.
· Must be able to work flexible hours including weekends, holidays and overnights
· Bilingual in Spanish desired but not required
Click here to learn more and apply!
Professional training opportunity:
- Nov. 8: Science essentials for local reporters, a free SciLine “Crash Course.” Former longtime Washington Post science reporter Rick Weiss and Ph.D. neuroscientist Dr. Tori Espensen will lay out key do’s, don’ts, and pitfalls to watch for when including science in your news reporting.
Experts available for Zoom interviews:
Training opportunities:
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)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (listed 9/3/23)
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 10/22/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 10/22/23)
WJZ-TV, Baltimore, MD (AND/Mornings, listed 10/22/23)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (relisted 9/10/23)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (listed 9/10/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 10/22/23)
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, relisted 10/29/23)
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/22/23, see ad above!)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 10/22/23)
WSNN-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 10/8/23)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 10/22/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 10/22/23)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 10/22/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 10/8/23)
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, relisted 10/22/23)
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)
WJHL-TV, Johnson Coty, TN (listed 10/22/23)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 10/22/23)
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:
CBS’s On The Road segment is one of the longest running franchise segments in network television. And there’s a major change coming to On The Road, one which creates a terrific job opportunity for someone. In a video you will only see here, STEVE HARTMAN and his longtime photographer BOB CACCAMISE explain.
And if you’re interested in that job, or know someone who is, here’s a link to the posting.
Dallman
News Director turned General Manager BILL DALLMAN has made yet another career turn: as an agent. He’s joined OTA Talent as National Director, Major Accounts, primarily to represent managers and other executives. As you know, Bill just finished a two year run as GM for Tegna’s KARE-TV (NBC) in Minneapolis. He’s also been and ND in Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis and Grand Rapids, MI.
General Manager News and Notes:
Blanchard
STEVEN BLANCHARD moves north to become VP/GM for WRIC-TV, Nexstar’s ABC affiliate in Richmond, VA. He’s been the Director of Sales for the company’s WFLA-TV (NBC) in Tampa since 2013. He’s worked for a number of other stations throughout the south, as you will learn when you read this news release.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 29, 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
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 **
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 Kovr Dr West Sacramento CA 95605
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Cntr. Dr. Charlotte, NC 28217 (see ad above)
WRAL-TV 2619 Western Boulevard Raleigh NC 27606
WLOS-TV 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803
WJAX/WFOX-TV 11700 Central Pkwy 2, Jacksonville, FL, 32224
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
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
WKBN/WYTV 3930 Sunset Blvd. Youngstown, OH 44512
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
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Avenue Medford, OR 97504 (see ad above!)
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
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
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