September 22, 2024
Friday, September 27, 2024 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Big news today from Scripps, which announced it is closing Scripps News in mid-November, and eliminating about 200 jobs. About 50 employees will be retained in a Washington bureau to support local stations.
O’Brian
Not sure if her job was eliminated or she chose to leave, but the company’s President of News, KATE O’BRIAN, announced she is leaving the company. Her tenure in that position was so short you could count the months on the fingers of both hands, with room to spare (her appointment was announced in late February.)
Details in this article from Broadcasting and Cable and more in this story from Deadline.com.
The stock market appeared to like the news. Scripps’ stock was up 23.7%.
To $2.35 a share.
LOTS of news this week. It will be a busy newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
For the THIRD week in a row, THREE new NDs, but this week we have TWO new openings.
Our list of open ND jobs remains at 35.
If you’re planning on attending the NAB show in New York, make sure your plans include a stop at the Octopus booth. Details in its ad below.
We have TWO paid ads for management level jobs with Spectrum in two pretty desirable markets, Raleigh and Austin, TX. Sciline has interesting new opportunities to learn more about some election related issues and things to know if your city is considering building a new stadium or arena. And we also have an ad for longtime newsletter supporter Stephen Arnold Music.
We recap the CBS moves to assign ONE GM to oversee TWO large market stations. And we’ll tell you about the upcoming retirement of another veteran Tegna executive.
Finally, a story about a news director getting to live out a dream…umpiring a baseball game in a major league stadium.
All that and more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Vargas-Sino
WXTV, New York, NY…ADRIANNA VARGAS-SINO has been promoted to Vice President of News for this Univision owned station. She’s been the main anchor there since 2011. More in this post from the station’s LinkedIn account. Adrianna replaces LUISA COLLINS who left in July after three years as VP of Content.
News 12 New Jersey and Connecticut…I’m told by a reliable source that BROOKE ROTHENBERG has been promoted to ND, overseeing both these Altice owned operations. I tried to confirm with emails to both Brooke and News 12 VP/News AUDREY GRUBER, but my emails were not returned. Brooke has worked at News 12 since 2005.
Schaper
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…BOB SCHAPER starts in late October as the next ND for this Scripps owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND for Nexstar’s WOWK-TV in Charleston-Huntington WV since 2021. Here’s the note from WGBA Station Manager JACLYN CLARK to the staff. Bob replaces RYAN SCOTT who returned to sister Scripps station WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee as Managing Editor.
New News Director Openings:
Roldan
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…LIZ ROLDAN is leaving this Tegna owned CBS affiliate after 3+ years as news director. We get details in this report from Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF. Liz, a Houston native, came to KHOU in 2021 from WFOR-TV (CBS) in Miami where she spent nine years as news director.
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…we told you above that BOB SCHAPER is leaving after three years to become ND for Scripps’ WGBA-TV in Green Bay.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Managing Director, Spectrum News. Austin, TX:
As Managing Director, you’ll direct the assignment of editorial content and leads a team of journalists. Your voice will be heard in the newsroom, as you determine the choices that will promote quality and engage audiences. You will lead, develop, and train teams to attract talent to the organization. It is a cycle of constant improvement as you oversee the Managing Editor, providing newsroom-wide mentorship. You’ll make data-informed decisions about what’s resonating to connect our audience with the stories that matter.
WHAT OUR MANAGING DIRECTORS ENJOY MOST
Working closely with Managing Editors and Executive producers to help grow and develop them into great leaders.
Managing high-performing teams by inspiring, guiding, educating, and coaching skillfully to draw in and nurture potential.
As a part of Spectrum News, you’re creative, highly technical, and ready to bring the character-driven stories of those in your community to life in our newsroom. You value accuracy and want to leverage your curiosity and storytelling abilities to share inspiring news across multiple platforms. Each day is a fast-paced and constantly evolving work environment with new stories to tell and perspectives to uncover.
We are focused on fostering a healthy, inclusive, and people-first team culture to effectively address challenges together. If you’re a nimble, passionate team player, you’ll find a home on our team.
To apply please visit the website below!
Spectrum News – Managing Director – Austin, TX
Executive Producer, Spectrum News, Raleigh, NC:
As Executive Producer, you’ll own the vision for the newscast. You’ll lead your team through story creation to produce compelling, timely, and accurate newscasts. You’ll be responsible for building a positive team culture, while generating story ideas that reflect your local community. You’ll make data-informed decisions to connect your audience with the stories that matter.
WHAT OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ENJOY MOST
Uniting a team of storytellers
Overseeing projects start to finish, including breaking news coverage and issue-driven special programming.
Hands-on management and training opportunities involving graphics, cameras, and cross-newsroom workflow.
As a part of Spectrum News, you’re creative, highly technical, and ready to bring the character-driven stories of those in your community to life in our newsroom. You value accuracy and want to leverage your curiosity and storytelling abilities to share inspiring news across multiple platforms. Each day is a fast-paced and constantly evolving work environment with new stories to tell and perspectives to uncover. We are focused on fostering a healthy, inclusive, and people-first team culture to effectively address challenges together. If you’re a nimble, passionate team player, you’ll find a home on our team.
To apply please visit the website below!
Spectrum News – Executive Producer – Raleigh, NC
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 8/18/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 7/21/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 9/8/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/21/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/11/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 7/28/24)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 7/21/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 9/15/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 9/8/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 9/22/24)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/21/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/21/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (relisted 8/11/24)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (relisted 7/21/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Evening Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/2/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 7/28/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 9/22/24)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 8/11/24)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Lifestyle show EP, listed 9/15/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 9/15/25, see ad above!)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/18/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 7/21/24)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 8/11/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 8/11/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/15/24)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 8/11/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 7/21/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 8/11/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, listed 8/11/24)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/21/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 9/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 8/11/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/21/24)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 9/2/24)
KOLR/KRBK-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 9/8/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/21/24)
WMTM-TV, Portland, ME (listed 8/11/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listing modified 7/1/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 9/15/24)
KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT (relisted 9/2/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 9/2/24)
More News Management Openings:
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) See ad above!
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (Digital Media Director)
Listed 7/21/24:
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital Director)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Director)
September SciLine events
Zoom – All events are free
September 25 (2-3 p.m. EDT)
SciLine is offering a briefing covering what the latest scientific research says about:
- U.S. voter demographics: who votes, where they live, and how those patterns have shifted in recent years;
- Major factors that drive voter turnout for different demographic groups;
- Obstacles to voting and who is most impacted most by those barriers; and
- Research-supported steps communities can take to increase voter turnout.
Join Dr. Lisa Bryant (Fresno State) and Dr. John Holbein (UVA) for presentations followed by on-the-record questions from journalists.
September 26 (10 a.m.-noon EDT)
Is your community pursuing new stadium construction? Book a 15-minute, 1-on-1 Zoom interview with Dr. Judith Grant Long (U. of Michigan). She can discuss:
- Cost trends for sports facilities, and historical trends for the share of the bill shouldered by the public,
- Economic benefits of new stadiums and arenas to host cities, such as new jobs, taxes, tourism, or other economic activity, and how public benefits compare to public costs;
- Urban development impacts of stadiums and arenas, including their use as “anchors” for sport and entertainment districts;
- What happens to sports venues after one-time events such as the Olympics and World Cup; and
- The best and worst types of sports-facility investments, from a host city perspective.
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Gibson
BRADY GIBSON, news director for WISH-TV here in Indianapolis (Circle City Broadcasting, CW) got a rare honor recently. He was chosen to be one of the umpires for Prep Baseball Report’s High School All-American game in Miami. Brady’s a big baseball fan who regularly umpires games around Indianapolis. The station aired this story.
General Manager News and Notes:
Beall
LYNN BEALL, who’s Tegna’s EVP and COO, will leave in mid-2025. Here’s the news release. She first joined Tegna (then Gannett) as GM of KSDK-TV (NBC) in St. Louis, became EVP in 2006, and moved into her current job in 2017. This comes just one week after Tegna’s SVP of News, ELLEN CROOKE, announced her 2025 retirement, and just three months after Tegna got a new CEO, MIKE STEIB.
Our Wednesday UPDATE told you that CBS was assigning TWO former news directors turned GMs to oversee TWO stations each. JOHNNY GREEN, JR., who’s been running WCBS-TV in New York, will also oversee WBZ-TV in Boston (where Johnny had once been ND). And TIM WIELAND will move to Los Angeles to be GM at KCBS/KCAL-TV, but continue to serve as GM for KCNC-TV in Denver, as he has since 2021 after his promotion from ND.
I could not find any CBS news releases about those changes, perhaps because MIKE NELSON, who might have overseen those releases, is leaving as SVP/Communications for CBS News and Stations. He was quickly replaced by LANCE FRANK.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 22, 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
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N.Seattle, WA 98109
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Rd, Sacramento, CA 95820
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WJXT-TV 4 Broadcast Pl, Jacksonville, FL 32207
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WJAR-TV 23 Kenney Drive Cranston, RI 02920
WATN-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
WDTN-TV 4595 S Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45439
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
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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
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
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
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
**: Spanish language station