October 4, 2020
Greetings:
Still working on formatting with the new Constant Contact program. Made some progress but still ironing out some issues. Appreciate your understanding.
There are THREE new news directors this week and ONE news director.
That leaves our list of open ND jobs at 24. ONE of those 24 jobs is among our TWO Paid Help Wanted ads. And it’s at a network owned station in a top five market!
And there’s more, of course.
We have ONE obituary, ONE new GM, a new job for a reporter who’s moving into management, details about a new novel from a veteran ND, and a new head for SPJ.
And we’ll link to a report on how one major market station is trying to reinvent the late news.
That’s all below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Clapperton
WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL…DAWN CLAPPERTON has been promoted to VP/News for this NBC o-and-o. Here’s the news release. Dawn’s been the Assistant ND here since 2018. She joined WTVJ as EP/Investigations in 2015 and has also worked in Indianapolis, West Palm Beach, Las Vegas, South Bend, and for the A & E show Cold Case. Dawn replaces MIGDALIA FIGUEROA who was promoted to GM for sister NBC-Telemundo station WTMO-TV in Orlando.
Gutierrez
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX…TIM GUTIERREZ has been named news director for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He’s been working at another Nexstar station, KVEO-TV in Brownsville and earlier worked in Laredo, San Antonio, and Albuquerque. At KTSM, he replaces VICTOR VENEGAS who left the station in August after not quite two years as ND.
Lucas
WLFI-TV, Lafayette, IN…LON LUCAS has been named news director for the Allen Media owned CBS station. Details in this news release. Lon’s been the ND for WEEK-TV in Peoria for the last 2 1/2 years. When we told you in September Lon was leaving that job, we told you he wanted to be closer to family. And he’s achieved that goal. He replaces JEFF SMITH who left WLFI in May.
New News Director Opening:
Stein
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL…this Allen Media Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate is looking for a new news director to replace MATT STEIN. Matt’s left the station after four years running the newsroom. He’s also worked in Memphis, Salinas/Monterey, CA, Seattle, Denver, Charlotte, and Syracuse.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Executive Producer, WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN:
Meredith Corporation has an immediate opening for an E xecutive Producer. This is a great opportunity to be part of not only putting a quality product on the air, but creating a great work environment for employees. The Executive Producer oversees total quality control of WSMV assigned newscasts. This position manages a highly creative staff to ensure that writing style, content, and presentation meet station standards. The Executive Producer executes research and ratings strategies for the newscasts. The work performed is for all media platforms and initiatives, including on-air, website, app and social media. Prior experience is EP required.
WSMV is a NBC affiliate Nashville, Tennessee, owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group. Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for more than 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile, tablets and video – to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis and Portland – and 14 in Top 60 markets. Meredith’s stations produce approximately 700 hours of local news and entertainment content each week, and operate leading local digital destinations.
Please visit https://www.meredith.com/careers
Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.
Vice President of News, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA:
Given the events happening in our world, local news is more vital than ever. It informs our community and helps people when other avenues for assistance are blocked. Which means the person leading a local newsroom must have vision, integrity, and an innovative spirit.
That’s who we’re looking for at NBC 10/Telemundo 62 in Philadelphia to become the stations’ next Vice President of News.
This NBC Owned Television Station seeks a dynamic and experienced news leader to guide its newsroom as it serves the tri-state area. Whether it’s breaking news at the top or an investigative piece diving deep into a local issue, this person will elevate the entire team to create compelling content and impactful engagement across linear and digital platforms.
We need someone who values storytelling and understands that Investigative, Weather, Breaking News, and Consumer stories help define our brand promise to our viewers, users and employees.
And, it doesn’t hurt that the station is located in the state-of-the-art Comcast Technology Center which features the most dynamic digital technology in the industry.
If you’re passionate about local journalism, have experience running a forward-thinking newsroom and leading a team of dedicated journalists – consider applying to be our next Vice President of News at the link below.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/13/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/27/20)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/6/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (relisted this week)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/20/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (listed 9/6/20)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (new listing this week)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listing 9/27/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 9/13/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 9/13/20)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Listed 9/27/20, see ad above!)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, listed 8/30/20)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/20/20)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 9/20/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (listed 9/6/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, new listing this week)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, new listing this week)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 9/27/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (listed 9/27/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (listed 9/20/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted this week:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)
Listed 9/6/20
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Content Manager)
Relisted 9/6/20
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)
Listed 8/23/20:
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 8-16-20:
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)
Obituary:
Garrett
HOMER HOLCOMB, JR, died Thursday. The name may not mean much to you, as he was better known as LEE GARRETT, a former news director for WSLS-TV in Roanoke, VA. He first joined the station in 1953 and spent 34 years there in a number of jobs. He later became a Roanoke County supervisor. More in this obituary.
Names in the News (and other items):
MICHAEL DORIA moves into management as he comes the Content Manager for Scripps’ WFTX-TV (FOX) in Ft. Myers. He’s been a reporter for stations in Las Vegas, and Rochester, Albany, and Binghamton, NY.
Dallas newswoman REBECCA AGUILAR becomes the first Latina President of SPJ. Details here.
Many have tried, and now KSTP-TV, Hubbard’s ABC affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul, is looking for a new way to attract viewers to the late news. Details in this story from the Knight-Cronkite News Lab. Full disclosure: I have two clients at KSTP, including meteorologist WREN CLAIR and reporter RICHARD REEVE.
Cohen
Another week, another broadcaster releasing a novel. This time it’s STEVE COHEN, longtime news director for KUSI-TV in San Diego. Ledo Road Diary is based on the true story of how 15,000 black American troops built an overland route across Japanese occupied Burma in WWll. Click here to learn more and purchase a copy. In addition to San Diego, Steve’s been an ND in several other large markets.
General Manager News and Notes:
Zoumbaris
JULIE ZOUMBARIS joins Nexstar’s WJET-TV in Erie, PA, as its new general manager. Details here. Julie most recently was GM for WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw. She’s also worked for two stations in Indianapolis, as well as in Dayton and for another Flint station.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 4, 2020:
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
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (see ad above!)
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
WISN-TV 759 N. 19th St. Milwaukee, WI 53233
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
WAAY-TV 1000 Monte Sano Blvd SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd. Waco, TX 76711
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd, East Peoria, IL 61611
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001
**: Spanish language station