September 27, 2020
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 UPDATE:
There’s a new news director in Miami to report.
Clapperton
Congratulations to DAWN CLAPPERTON who’s been promoted to VP/News for NBC’s Miami o-and-o, WTVJ-TV.
Here’s the news release from the station.
Dawn’s been the Assistant ND here since 2018. She first joined the station as EP/Investigations in 2015. She’s also worked in Indianapolis, West Palm Beach, Las Vegas, South Bend, and for the A & E show Cold Case.
She replaces MIGDALIA FIGUEROA is moving to Orlando where she’ll be GM for sister NBC/Telemundo station WTMO-TV.
As you know, we’re still wrestling with a new format forced on me by Constant Contact. A few of you responded after my complaining in Sunday’s report, with most liking it, though a few complains about the size of pictures when viewing on a mobile device.
I’ll keep working on it and, with luck, you soon won’t have to suffer through me complaining. You likely get enough of that from your staff!
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
There are TWO new news directors this week (both first time NDs and both promoted within their current companies) and ONE news director opening caused by the retirement of a three time ND.
That leaves our list of open ND jobs at 26. ONE of those 26 openings is featured among our TWO Paid Help Wanted ads.
But there’s much more below:
We have ONE obituary, a new job for a former Atlanta and Chicago GM, new duties for TWO Meredith GMs, a national award for a Phoenix station, and several other items of interest. (Well, I think they’re interesting…why else would I include them?)
That’s all below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Thomas
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN…DENISHA THOMAS returns home as the new news director for this Tegna owned ABC/CW operation. She’s currently the Executive Producer for sister Tegna station WKYC-TV in Cleveland. This detailed memo from GM RICK ROGALA has much more detail about Denisha’s background. She replaces LISA LOVELL who left the station earlier this month after 16 years there, 7 1/2 as ND.
Fuller
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL…SABRINA FULLER moves within Gray as she heads to Florida’s capital city to be the next ND for this CBS affiliate. Sabrina is currently the executive producer for Gray’s WDBJ-TV in Roanoke. She first joined the station in 2015 and was promoted to EP two years ago and replaces JEFF SCHLESSER who was promoted to ND for Gray’s WWSB-TV in Sarasota last month.
And one update to our report last week on LAWTON DODD’s appointment as ND for KVAL-TV in Eugene, OR. He’ll also oversee KMTR-TV in Eugene which Sinclair operates under a shared services agreement.
New News Director Openings:
Davidson
WCBI-TV, Columbus, MS….ROBERT DAVIDSON has retired after 8+ years as news director for this Morris Multimedia owned CBS affiliate. He’s also been a news director in Jackson, TN, and Tupelo, MS. The station sent him off in fine fashion with this on-air farewell.
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 this week)
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 (listed 8/9/20)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/20/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (listed 9/6/20)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listing revised this week)
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)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
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)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (new listing this week)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (new listing this week)
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:
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)
Listed 8/9/16:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)
Obituary:
Mater
GENE MATER, a longtime broadcaster who played a big role in the Radio Television Digital News Foundation, died last Sunday (September 20th) at the age of 93. His death was attributed to Covid-19. This tribute from the RTDNA website explains his influence on the organization and our industry.
Names in the News (and other items):
Congratulations to Scripps’ KNXV-TV (ABC) in Phoenix, the only local station to win a National Emmy Award. The station won in the “Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative Report” category for its “Abuse of Force” investigative series. That series prompted an FBI investigation into a local police department’s use of force.
Murrietta
A reunion in Tulsa re-connects KOKI-TV News Director FRANK VOLPICELLA and RUDY MURRIETTA. They worked together at WGCL-TV in Atlanta when Frank was the ND there and Rudy was the Assistant ND. Now, Rudy will be the Managing Editor for this Cox Media Group owned FOX affiliate.
Willi
Longtime broadcaster JIM WILLI, who spent many hours on the road as a consultant, spent some of that time writing a serial killer novel. Jim tells me it has finally been published as an ebook, with print copies to follow in a few weeks. It’s called The Frogman of Cedar Creek and is set outside Dallas. Learn more and buy your copy by clicking here.
Price
The late GRANT PRICE, a longtime Iowa news director who worked at several stations, most notably KWWL-TV in Waterloo, has a new honor. An endowed position at Wartburg College, where Grant worked after retiring from KWWL, has been established in his honor. More details here.
General Manager News and Notes:
Banks
LYLE BANKS has landed as the new GM for Morgan Murphy’s WISC-TV (CBS) in Madison, WI. Here’s the post from the WISC website. Lyle most recently was the GM for Meredith’s WGCL-TV (CBS) in Atlanta, a position he left earlier this year. He’s also been a GM in Chicago and Norfolk.
Speaking of Meredith, TWO current Meredith GM’s will keep their current jobs but assume some additional duties. Find our about the new roles for KEVIN JAMES from Phoenix and DANA NEVES from Hartford in this company news release.
Barr
EMILY BARR, CEO of Graham Media Group, did an extensive interview with Broadcasting and Cable after that publication named her as Broadcaster of the Year. Among other topics, she discusses how Covid 19 will impact the number of people who will actually be working in the stations. It’s worth a few minutes of your time.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 27, 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
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
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
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd. Waco, TX 76711
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922
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
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001
**: Spanish language station