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December 29, 2024

Thursday, January 2, 2025:

Greetings:

A former Houston news director is about to become….a current Houston news director. That’s our first UPDATE on this second day of the new year.

Roldan

KIAH-TV (Nexstar/CW) in Houston today announced that its next news director will be LIZ ROLDAN. Liz spent the last 3+ years as news director for Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston before leaving in September. Her new job came today, announced in this news release from KIAH GM HUMBERTO HORMAZA.

She replaces ANGEL COVARRUBIAS who left in October after 2 1/2 years as ND.

Before returning to KHOU in her native Houston, Liz spent nine years as ND for CBS’s WFOR-TV in Miami. She also spent 13 years at WTVJ-TV (NBC) in Miami.

We’ll see you this weekend with our full newsletter.

regards,

 

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ***

Greetings:

As I suggested last week, not much action this week…so it won’t take long to read this edition.

But I strongly commend to you one of the items in Names in the News below, .and that’s a piece by Nashville investigative reporter PHIL WILLIAMS who works for WTVF-TV there. He’s been the target of vicious attacks from groups who don’t like his reporting.

There are also stories there about a new Assistant ND in Raleigh and a farewell for a longtime South Dakota ND.

Hopefully we’ll have more content next week. Until then, have a safe and Happy New Year.

Newly Named News Directors:

No changes this week.

New News Director Openings:

No changes this week.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, relisted 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 11/3/24:

KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)

Listed 10/27/24:

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)

Listed 10/20/24:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Williams

WTVF-TV (Nashville/CBS/Scripps) investigative reporter PHIL WILLIAMS has been the target of vile attacks from hate groups over some of his reporting. Phil wrote this must read story which I highly recommend to you…particularly if those groups start coming after you or your staff.

WNCN-TV (CBS) in Raleigh has promoted LESLIE NASH to assistant ND. She’s been an EP for the Nexstar owned station, and replaces DEREK ROWLES who was promoted to ND earlier this month.

King

We told you two weeks ago that KSFY-TV News Director KEVIN KING was leaving that Sioux Falls, SD, Nexstar Gray TV owned operation to return to Wichita as ND for the company’s KWCH-TV. Here’s a story posted by KSFY on his last day there.

General Manager News and Notes:

I am not aware of any GM changes this week.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 29, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
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
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
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

December 22, 2024

Greetings:

For the week before several major holidays, a surprising (at least to me) amount of news.

THREE new ND openings, TWO in top 25 markets. And there’s ONE new news director to tell you about.

If my math is correct, 41 stations are still looking for a new news director. That full list is below, and if you see a station that should NOT be on the list, please let me know.

We have the obituary of an engineer turned GM who later became President of his broadcast group.

In Names in the News (and other stuff!) we have details on court wins for an Oklahoma City station AND all journalists in Missouri.

New jobs for several former news directors, and details about the retirement of a longtime Toledo journalist whose first trip after his wedding was NOT a honeymoon with his wife, but a trip to Mexico on a story with me.

I don’t expect much news this week or next, but I do plan on publishing both Sundays.

Best wishes for great holidays to you and yours, and thanks for reading all these years.

Newly Named News Director:

Cheek

WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC…a move within Nexstar sends KRISTIE CHEEK to this CBS affiliate as ND. She’s been the EP at Nexstar’s WNCN-TV (CBS) in Raleigh for the last 3+ years after four years as a producer. She’s worked in multiple markets: her Linkedin page has more. At WNCT, she replaces DAVID BAXLEY. David left the station in November after nine months as ND due to a family situation.

New News Director Openings:

Robin W.

KDFW-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX…you first learned via our Tuesday UPDATE that ROBIN WHITMEYER is retiring after 13 years running the news department for this FOX o-and-o. She’ll step down near the end of February. Robin sent me this brief note looking back at her time there. Before Dallas, Robin spent more than 25 years at WSOC-TV (Cox/ABC) in Charlotte, the last nine as news director.

Gibson

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN…this independent station owned by Circle City Broadcasting is looking for a new news director. BRADY GIBSON has held that job since February when he was promoted from Assistant ND, reporting to VP/News AL CARL. Brady began at WISH as an EP in 2017 and earlier spent 17 years working at WRTV (ABC) in Indianapolis. He also worked in Evansville.

Rudy M.

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK…there’s a posting for a news director’s job on the website of this Imagicomm owned FOX affiliate. RUDY MURRIETA has been the ND here since May, 2023, after almost three years as Managing Editor. I reached out to Rudy, the KOKI General Manager, and an Imagicomm executive. No one responded.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/1/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, relisted 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 11/3/24:

KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)

Listed 10/27/24:

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)

Listed 10/20/24:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Obituary:

Elkins

KENNIE ‘KEN’ ELKINS began as an engineer and went on to be President of Pulitzer Broadcasting, a mid-size group owner until the stations were sold (many of them to Hearst). Ken died December 11th at the age of 87. He was GM of KSD-TV (now KSDK-TV) in St. Louis when he was promoted. His obituary is here and a bio (from his induction into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame) is here.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Congratulations to KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. That Nexstar owned CBS affiliate won a long legal battle with the State Department of Education over access.

And journalists in Missouri are celebrating a win in a court case challenging a blanket rule calling for redaction of ALL names of witnesses and victims in court filings.

Solakian

MICHAEL SOLAKIAN has been named Chief of Hearst’s Washington, DC, bureau. He’s been the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WTAE-TV (ABC) in Pittsburgh since 2021. Michael’s also worked for Hearst stations in Louisville and Baltimore, and began his career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. In DC, he replaces WENDY WILK who is leaving after 20 years for a new role with the Hearst Foundations. More on Michael’s and Wendy’s new roles here.

Rozman

MARIA ROZMAN is the new Senior Director of News for Spectrum Noticias in New York. We told you last edition that she was leaving her job as ND for WKTB, the Gray owned Telemundo station in Atlanta. She said she was moving to New York and promised more news soon. And she delivered. She’s a former ND for Telemundo stations in Washington, DC, and Denver, and worked for CNN and for the Univision station in Denver.

Balta

HUGO BALTA, a onetime ND for public station WTTW-TV in Chicago, is the new executive editor of The Fulcrum. He’s been the director of solutions journalism and DEI initiatives there. More about The Fulcrum from its website. Hugo’s also worked for MSNBC, ESPN, WCBS-TV in New York, and is a two time NAHJ President. More in his varied career via his Linkedin page.

BILL DOBILAS has been promoted to EP for Tegna’s WXIA-TV (NBC) in Atlanta. He’d been the Managing Editor there. Among his many other stops was five years as an ND in Chattanooga.

BRYAN LUHN has been promoted to Director of Media Relations at the University of Houston. He had been the Assistant Director there. Bryan’s a former ND in Charleston, SC, and worked in many other markets. More from his Linkedin page.

Kwapich

PAUL KWAPICH, a 43 year veteran of WTOL-TV (CBS-Tegna) in Toledo, is retiring. He’s held many jobs, including newsroom operations manager and chief photographer. In 1986, I took Paul with me to Acapulco, Mexico, in search of a federal fugitive. We found him, and our story made the front page of the local paper. Paul had been married less than two weeks when we left the country. Remarkably, Paul is still married to CINDY, and she still speaks to me.

General Manager News and Notes:

I am not aware of any GM changes this week.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
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
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
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

December 15, 2024

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

The longest tenured news director in Dallas is calling it quits after 13 years there.

Whitmeyer

ROBIN WHITMEYER is retiring in late February as Vice President/News Director for KDFW-TV, the FOX o-and-o in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Here’s a note she sent me tonight.

Robin started there in January, 2012, after nine plus years as news director at Cox’s WSOC-TV (ABC) in Charlotte, where she spent more than 25 years in a wide variety of roles.

Congrats to Robin on a great run there. Friends can send her a kind note by clicking here.

And we’ll see you this weekend…if not before…with our full newsletter.

regards,

 

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

For mid-December (and, thus, close to the holidays) there’a lot of movement to report

There are FOUR new news directors to tell you about, with THREE new openings.

That means there are now 39 stations with ND openings.

TWO more GM retirements at Gray Television, including a former ND.

A former newsman who worked in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and (for me) in Toledo is sentenced to five years in federal prison on child porn charges.

TWO stations celebrated outgoing news directors, while another profiled an ND who retired 21 years ago and may be the longest tenured ND in the country.

All that and more as you read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Bonfield

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…our Wednesday UPDATE first told you that KATHRYN BONFIELD is joining this Tegna owned CBS affiliate. New this edition: Here’s the news release. Kathryn left WJXT-TV, Graham Media’s independent station in Jacksonville, earlier this summer after 13 years. In Houston, Kathryn replaces LIZ ROLDAN who left in October after more than three years as ND.

King

KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS…KEVIN KING moves within Gray and returns to Wichita to be the next news director for this CBS affiliate. Kevin produced there earlier in his career. He’s been the ND for Gray’s KSFY-TV in Sioux Falls for 14 years (more on that below). He’s also worked in Dallas and St. Louis. Kevin replaces MICHAEL TRUETT who left last month after 18 months as ND,

Neuhoff

KDRV-TV, Medford, OR…thanks to a reader who tipped that BRAD NEUHOFF’s Linkedin page says he’s been ND for this Allen Media owned ABC affiliate since May. That’s a return to a newsroom for Brad, who left KOIN-TV in Portland, OR, in 2014. He’s also been an ND in Columbia, SC. His history, both recent and earlier, is on his aforementioned Linkedin page. He replaces JERRY HOWARD who became director of community outreach here in October, 2023.

Brown

WTRF-TV, Wheeling, WV…KERI BROWN returns to this Nexstar owned CBS/ABC operation as its next news director. She had once interned at WTRF and later became assignment editor there. GM MITZI COLEMAN sent this note to staff detailing Keri’s background. Keri replaces BRENDA DANEHART who is retiring after 20 years as ND and more than 40 at the station.

New News Director Openings:

Rozman

WKTB, Atlanta, GA…MARIA ROZMAN has left this Gray Television low-power Telemundo affiliate after just over one year as ND. She posted on Linkedin that she’s moving to New York and promised more news soon. Earlier, Maria worked in Spain and in the Canary Islands. She’s a former ND for Telemundo stations in Washington, DC and Denver, and worked for CNN and for the Univision station in Denver.

Hatten

WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY…according to his Linkedin page, KEITH HATTEN’s tenure as ND for this Tegna’s owned ABC lasted only five months. Keith joined WHAS in August after two years at KPAX-TV (Scripps/CBS) in Missoula, MT. He’d also spent four plus years as the Assistant ND for Scripps’ WRTV (ABC) in Indianapolis, was an Assistant ND in West Lafayette, IN, where he began as a photographer.

KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls, SD…you learned above that KEVIN KING is leaving after 14 years to become ND for sister Gray station KWCH-TV in Wichita, KS. GM JIM BERMAN sent this kind note to other Gray GMs and other executives.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/1/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, listed 9/29/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 11/17/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/29)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 9/29/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 9/29/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (listed 9/29/29)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 11/24/24:

KETK-TV, Tyler TX (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 11/17/24:

Spectrum News, Austin, TX (Managing Director)

Listed 11/3/24:

KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)

Listed 10/27/24:

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)

Listed 10/20/24:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Drechsler

A federal judge followed a prosecutor’s recommendation and sentenced former KNBC-TV (Los Angeles) investigative producer PHIL DRECHSLER to five years in prison on child pornography charges. He was also fined $20,000 and, upon release, will be placed on supervised release for 15 years and must register as a sex offender. Full disclosure: I hired him as a photographer in Toledo almost 35 years ago. He also worked in Cincinnati.

WRAL-TV in Raleigh celebrated the career of retiring news director RICK GALL.

WHNS-TV (Gray/FOX) in Greenville, SC, said farewell to ND MARYBETH JACOBY who is moving to sister Gray station WIS-TV in Columbia, SC, as ND.

Giles

And WISH-TV in Indianapolis profiled former ND LEE GILES as part of the station’s 70th anniversary. Lee retired in 2003 but was among the longest tenured ND in the country at 35 years. (Personal note: We had lunch a month ago and he’s still doing well.)

BETH JOHNSON, a former EP who now trains producers, suggests managers look to non-traditional candidates to fill openings.

Researchers at Kansas University found readers trusted news less when they thought AI was involved in its production, even if they didn’t know to what extent.

General Manager News and Notes:

Two more retirements of general managers at Gray TV stations, including former ND turned GM HOLLY STEUART. Holly’s been GM at WTVM-TV in Columbus, GA, since 2013 and has held several other GM and ND positions as her Linkedin page will tell you. Also retiring is SCOTT SANDERS who’s been GM for WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC, since 2020.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 15, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, Georgia 30096 **
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
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
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
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

December 8, 2024

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

One of the largest market news director openings has been filled by a veteran newswoman.

Bonfield

KATHRYN BONFIELD will be the next news director for Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston. She most recently spent 13 years as ND for Graham Media’s independent station in Jacksonville, WJXT-TV, a job she left earlier this summer. Longtime Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more on Kathryn’s appointment. Her complete career history is here.

At KHOU, she replaces LIZ ROLDAN who left in October after more than three years as ND.

We’ll see you this weekend with our full newsletter, hopefully closer to our normal publishing schedule.

regards,

 

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

Apologies for our very late post.

But it’s another busy week.

There are THREE new news directors to share, with THREE new openings, TWO in top 20 markets.

That means there are now 40 stations with ND openings by my count.

Sciline is back with some interesting interview opportunities.

There’s ONE new GM to share, and a 45 years career with Magid comes to an end this week.

Those stories and more as you read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Taylor

Campagna

WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY…JIM CAMPAGNA spent 35 years at this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate, the last 15 as news director. He began there as a reporter but is retiring this Wednesday. He’ll be replaced by ROB TAYLOR, who joined the station earlier this year as the assistant news director. Much more about both here.

Allen

KIVI-TV, Boise, ID…NATALEE ALLEN returns to this Scripps owned ABC affiliate as news director. Earlier in her career, she was the morning anchor/reporter before moving across town to KTVB-TV as the assistant ND. Station Manager LAURIE ASIN told the staff via this memo. At KIVI, Natalee replaces KEITH ST. PETER who’s going to become Scripps’ Director of Newsroom Artificial Intelligence.

Brautigan

WJET/WFXP-TV, Erie, PA…BAILEY BRAUTIGAN moves within Nexstar to become the next ND for this ABC/FOX opeation. She’s been the Assistant ND at WOWK-TV in Charleston-Huntington, WV, for the past four years. Her Linkedin page has more. She replaces COREY MORRIS who left after 18 months as ND. Nexstar owns WJET and operates WFXP which is owned by Mission Broadcasting.

New News Director Openings:

WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA…MARQUES WHITE says he will leave this Nexxtar owned CW affiliate in a few months, He wants to return to New York City. He joined the station in May 2023.

Hoffman

WTVT-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL…our Tuesday UPDATE first told you that JOHN HOFFMAN is retiring after 37 years at what is now a FOX o-and-o. He’s been the news director here since 2010 and first joined what was then a CBS affiliate in 1987 as a producer/writer, and moved up the ranks, including ten years as the Assistant News Director.

Wideman

WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA…KATHY WIDEMAN is leaving this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate after just over two years as ND. She’s taking a job outside of television.. Kathy earlier spent ten years as the Assistant ND at Nexstar’s WJBF-TV in Augusta, GA.

Interview an Expert

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Wednesday, December 11 (1-3 p.m. EDT)

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Book a 15-minute, 1-on-1 Zoom interview with Dr. Emily S. Jungheim (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine).

She can discuss:

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Wednesday, December 11 (3-5 p.m. EDT)

Nearly 100 million households display a Christmas tree, according to industry research.

Book a 15-minute, 1-on-1 Zoom interview with Dr. Justin Whitehill (NC State).

He can discuss:

  • Current work on breeding Christmas trees that don’t drop their needles, and are more resilient to climate change, resistant to pests, and have other desirable attributes;
  • How climate change is affecting Christmas tree farming;
  • The effect of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in North Carolina on the national tree supply; and more.

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Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/1/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, listed 9/29/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 11/17/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/29)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 9/29/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 9/29/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (listed 9/29/29)
KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT (relisted 9/2/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 11/24/24:

KETK-TV, Tyler TX (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 11/17/24:

Spectrum News, Austin, TX (Managing Director)

Listed 11/3/24:

KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)

Listed 10/27/24:

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)

Listed 10/20/24:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Haynes

After a long career with Frank N. Magid Associates, DICK HAYNES’ last day was last Friday. That brings a 45 year career to an end. Dick points out that when he began in 1979, the consumer had, on average, FIVE TV channels to choose from. Now that number is 180. Check out this news release for a list of Dick’s career highlights, and friends can find his email address there, as well.

General Manager News and Notes:

DEREK ROGERS leaves WCBI-TV in Columbus, MS, where he was the GM to become the next GM for Gray’s KXII-TV in Sherman, TX.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 8, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, Texas 77057
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KWCH-TV 2815 E. 37th Street North Wichita, KS 67219
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
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
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
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
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

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