May 25, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 UPDATE:
Greetings:
The seemingly never ending saga of Nexstar and Tegna has taken another turn.
Paolini
Tegna has named PATRICK PAOLINI as CEO. This story from Variety explains the twists in this move, as Tegna is currently a subsidiary of Nexstar, though Nexstar has been blocked by a court order from actually running Tegna. Patrick’s a veteran of Fox who, until last week, was EVP of Ad Sales for Fox Television Sales. He’s a former GM of FOX o-and-o’s in Washington and Philadelphia and worked at other FOX stations, as outlined in his Linkedin page.
This seems to me, at least, that Nexstar expects the litigation trying to block its acquisition of Tegna will take some time to be resolved.
Singer
One more item. Due to an editing error on my part, we had the wrong link to a story about the death of former KCBS-TV (Los Angeles) News Director MICHAEL SINGER.
Here is the correct link.
We’ll be back Sunday with our full newsletter, barring any more UPDATES.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
I hope you had a great Holiday weekend.
As is our custom, we pay tribute to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, which was FELIX ROSENQVIST, who edged DAVID MALUKAS in the closest finish in the 110 previous races.
Photo by Bob Priddy – Missourinet
And my favorite fun fact about the race which I have shared before.
With a crowd of about 350,000, that means one in every 1,000 people in America was at the race.
On to our normal business.
THREE new news directors were named this week, with TWO openings, ONE created by an ND moving to the GM office at her station.
Our count of ND openings remains at 24.
We have THREE ads this week with perhaps the most diverse jobs we’ve ever had in one issue. Consider these opportunities:
- The GM job at the University of Missouri’s KOMU-TV (Click on the ad and search for job 59610).
- Director of News and Public Affairs at Arizona’s PBS
- And the executive director for Investigative Reporters and Editors.
And because I know YOU want to know, the salary range for each job is listed in the ad, but you will have to click on the link to find out.
There are THREE new GMs in TWO cities.
There are TWO obituaries, including ONE for a former Los Angeles ND.
And more!
- The New York Times publisher blasts CBS AND Nexstar in a speech about a free press.
- Paramount went after websites that uploaded a public access show from Monroe, MI…because STEPHEN COLBERT made an appearance.
- CBS News Radio went away this week.
- A look at what might be ahead for CBS News this summer.
- After eleven years, an Idaho newswoman returns to a newsroom.
- Ever get a letter saying your qualifications for a job didn’t suffice, even though they exceeded them? You’ll commiserate with a sportscaster.
- And the Boston Red Sox owned New England Sports Network pulled an ad for a Maine Senate candidate who trashed team management.
Enjoy your short week!
Newly Named News Directors:
Paez
Univision, Northern California…VIVIANA PÁEZ has been named Regional News Director for Univision Northern California. She’ll oversee stations in the Bay Area and Sacramento, where she has been working as an anchor and executive producer. Viviana replaces VLADIMIR ARAYA who left in March after a little more than a year in that role. More details in this story from Media Moves.
Dayton
WNDU-TV, South Bend, IN…RICK DAYTON takes over as ND for this Gray Media NBC affiliate. He shared the news on his Linkedin page. Rick had been the executive reporter at WRTV (ABC) in Indianapolis before Scripps sold to Circle City Broadcasting which laid off almost the entire news department. He’s a former anchor in Pittsburgh and West Virginia and also hosted a talk show on KDKA radio. Rick replaces GARY WORDLAW who left the station in March.
Ellis
WLUC-TV, Marquette, MI…this Gray Media owned NBC and FOX station has promoted DAVE ELLIS to be its next news director. He’s currently an EP there in his second stint at WLUC, and has also worked in Lansing as well as for Michigan State University, his alma mater. He replaces SHANNON KONOSKE who left in March after less than a year as ND.
New News Director Openings:
Stahlman
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY…always like to share when a news director moves to the GM’s chair. So congrats to ANDREA STAHLMAN who’s been the ND here since 2012, first starting at this Hearst owned CBS affiliate as an intern, was hired as an assignment editor, then producer, EP, Assistant ND before become ND. She replaces GLENN HAYGOOD who is retiring after four decades in our business.
Merckx
KOKH/KOCB-TV, Oklahoma City…BARBARA MERCKX has left this Sinclair Broadcasting owned FOX/CW operation after just nine months on the job. Before that, she spent seven years on the faculty at the Gaylord College of Journalism at the Univeristy of Oklahoma where she spent some of that time as ND for a student led station. Her career has had several distinct stops as you’ll learn via her LinkedIn page.
Help Wanted Ads:
Director of News and Public Affairs, Arizona PBS:
Arizona PBS is expanding its news and public affairs content offering to better serve the fast-growing Phoenix and greater Arizona markets.
To do that, we’re looking for an experienced, strategic, and innovative Director of News and Public Affairs to lead our newsroom and public affairs content efforts across broadcast, digital, and emerging platforms.
The ideal candidate is a mission-driven newsroom leader who understands the evolving role of journalism, particularly that played by non-profit newsrooms and public media.
This is not a “business-as-usual” news leadership role. Our ideal hire must be an exceptional journalist, collaborative leader, and forward-thinking media professional who can guide teams through an evolving media landscape while maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity.
The Director of News and Public Affairs will work closely with the Senior Director of Content to define and execute a strong editorial vision while leading a team of reporters, producers, editors, hosts, and student workers/interns.
Key priorities include growing digital news audiences, working with the Senior Director of Content to develop platform-specific content strategies, as well as collaboration and innovation with other non-profit news providers in Arizona.
Click here to apply at this link below before June 6.
Executive Director, Investigative Reporters & Editors:
Investigative Reporters & Editors is looking for an executive director with the vision to lead the world’s largest organization supporting investigative and data journalism. The position involves overseeing a dynamic organization with more than 4,200 members internationally, 13 staff members and dozens of volunteer contributors, as well as serving as a staff member at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.
For more than 50 years, IRE — a nonprofit organization — has led the journalism industry in supporting and training journalists and college students in techniques for investigative reporting and data analysis. The organization runs the world’s biggest conferences on investigative and data journalism – known respectively as IRE and NICAR. IRE provides training and resources for journalists in news organizations of all sizes, from rural U.S. communities to cities across the globe. Its website, ire.org, offers a growing portfolio of training tools, tipsheets, video tutorials and an extensive library of resources.
The right candidate will have experience in investigative journalism, management and fundraising, and an enthusiasm for evangelizing on behalf of investigative journalism and raising funds to support that mission. IRE is located in Columbia, Missouri, where candidates may have the option of moving or working remotely. This position may include teaching two classes per year at the School of Journalism. The position also involves considerable travel, both domestically and internationally.
Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Click here to learn more and apply.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 5/25/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 5/25/26)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC listed 5/25/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 5/17/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 5/25/26)
WXOW-TV, Wausau, WI (listed 3/22/26)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/10/26)
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (Digital Content EP, listed 4/26/26)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (Boston market) (listed 5/17/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 4/12/26)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/19/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 5/17/26)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 5/17/26)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 4/19/26)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/17/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/19/26)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 5/17/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 5/17/26)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 5/17/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 5/17/26)
WBBH-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 5/17/26)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 5/17/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 5/17/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 3/29/26)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 4/19/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 5/17/26)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 5/25/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/2/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 5/25/26:
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (General Manager, see ad above!)
Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs, see ad above!)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (Executive Reporter)
Listed 5/3/26:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Producer, Nighttime Newscast)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Newscast Producer)
Relisted 4/19/26:
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Digital Director)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 4/12/26:
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (GM of Student Broadcast Media and Instructor)
Obituaries:
Singer
A former news director for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles died May 13th. MICHAEL SINGER was 85 years old. He was named ND there in 1989, replacing ERIC SORENSON who was promoted to VP/Station Manager. Michael was a former investigative reporter who also worked as a producer for CBS News. But he may have been best known in LA as ‘The Reluctant Gourmet’ in restaurant reviews written by his wife, RUTH REICHL, who was a critic for the Los Angeles Times.
Sweitzer
STEVE SWEITZER, a former chief photographer and news operations manager for WISH-TV in Indianapolis, died Thursday at the age of 77. Steve was a past president of the National Press Photographers Association. After stepping down from his management roles, he contributed “Tech Talk” segments for a WISH program. The station remembered him here.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
New York Times publisher AG SULZBERGER blasted, by name, CBS and Nexstar in a speech this week defending a free press.
Speaking of CBS, the network sent copyright infringement notices to websites that uploaded STEPHEN COLBERT’s appearance on “Only in Monroe”, a public access program in Monroe, MI. They have since backed off that strategy after an outcry. You may remember Colbert used an appearance on that show as a promotional gimmick before launching his now-cancelled late night show in 2015.
Speaking of CBS cancelling things, the CBS Radio Network also went away this week. Here’s a look back at its history from a media historian who suggests that its departure reflects a change in the attitude that news media should serve the public interest.
The Hollywood Reporter looks at the summer ahead for CBS News and BARI WEISS as she is expected to make major changes to 60 Minutes and CBS Mornings.
CHAR JACKSON returns to a newsroom as she joins KIVI-TV in Boise as its assistant ND. She worked as a producer for KTVB-TV in Boise until 2015 when she embarked on a series of public relations jobs.
I’m guessing that many, if not all of you, have received rejection letters, saying your experience didn’t ‘align’ with a job’s requirements, even though your experience might have exceeded those requirements. So you can sympathize with BILL ROSINSKI, a sports play by play announcer who was rejected by the Baltimore Ravens, even though he’s done play by play for TWO NFL teams, and called college football for ten years for ESPN.
And while we’re on the subject of curious moves by sports teams, check out this story. The New England Sports Network, owned by the Boston Red Sox, pulled an commercial for a candidate for the US Senate from Maine who bashed the team in his ad.
General Manager News and Notes:
THREE new GMs this week, TWO in the same market.
You learned above that Hearst promoted ANDREA STAHLMAN to be the next General Manager at WLKY-TV (CBS) in Louisville. She’s been the ND there since 2012 and replaces GLENN HAYGOOD who is retiring.
Hiett
Also in Louisville, Gray Media named JAY HIETT to run both WAVE-TV (NBC) and its newly acquired FOX affiliate, WDRB-TV. He replaces JOHN O’BRIEN at WAVE and BILL LAMB at WDRB. Jay has been the GM for Gray’s WFIE-TV (NBC) in Evansville since 2015.
Gray also promoted JAMIE BREWER to replace Jay at WFIE. She’s been the Director of Sales there.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Monday, May 25, 2026:
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
WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Avenue Seattle, WA 98121
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1001 Highlands Plaza Dr. St. Louis, MO 63110
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37210
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St Baltimore, MD 21211
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WLKY-TV 1918 Mellwood Ave. Louisville, KY 40206
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St Spokane WA 99223
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KIFI-TV 1915 N Yellowstone Hwy Idaho Falls, ID 83401
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station