August 29, 2021
Wednesday, September 1, 2021 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Today’s UPDATE brings news of a news director opening at a top ten market network owned station.
Dobson
BEN DOBSON has left NBC’s Boston operation, WBTS-TV, (branded as NBC Boston) after more than three years as VP/News. Staff learned of the change within the hour.
Ben’s spent almost ten years with NBC, moving between Boston and the company’s o-and-o in Hartford, WVIT-TV, where he first joined NBC as the Managing Editor there in 2011. He moved to Boston, then back to Hartford as news director, before returning to Boston in 2018.
He’s also worked for two other Boston stations, as you can see on his Linkedin page.
We should have more on this story and all the week’s developments in our full newsletter, sometime this Labor Day weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Tuesday, August 31, 2021 UPDATE:
CBS has filled its long open WCBS-TV (New York) news director opening with a former WCBS EP.
Burke
SARAH BURKE returns to the station as news director. She was an EP there before moving to CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston as an Assistant ND for about 18 months. She’s been the Assistant ND for ABC’s Chicago owned station, WLS-TV, for the past seven years. Sarah’s also worked in Denver and Indianapolis.
More details in the news release.
Longtime Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER first reported early yesterday that Sarah was leaving WLS and speculated that she was headed to WCBS.
The man who hired her in New York, WCBS GM JOHNNY GREEN Jr., also worked at WBZ, but I believe she left before Johnny got there (it’s possible he replaced her as assistant ND before becoming ND there.)
At WCBS, of course, she replaces DAVID FRIEND who was ousted earlier this year…along with his boss, PETER DUNN…after a Los Angeles Times investigation into accusations of a hostile work environment. Since then, two other o-and-o GM’s have been dismissed.
We’ll have more on this story and all the week’s developments in our full newsletter sometime this Labor Day weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** **** ****
Greetings:
We have another busy newsletter, with several news director changes and lots of other news.
THREE new news directors appointed, with THREE new openings. Our list of open ND jobs remains at 34.
We have ONE paid help wanted ad for a morning EP job in a top ten market.
And there’s an ad promoting the upcoming RTDNA conference in Denver. Of note: RTDNA will require proof of vaccination to attend and offering a unique choice of lanyards to attendees.
THREE obituaries this week, of a former San Antonio newsman, a one-time Norfolk ND who is better known as an anchor for an unusual NBC program, and for the wife of a former Indianapolis news director.
I was tempted but did NOT include the obituary of one time Minneapolis News Director LOU GRANT. (Wait. Maybe I just did.)
A former ABC News executive is accused of sexual assault in a civil law suit, while ABC named his replacement this week. We have more on the retirement of NBC NewsChannel’s SHARON HOUSTON as well as on the retirement of a longtime Iowa journalist.
And two items from St., Louis, where a newsman (!) has been promoted to chief engineer, and why another newsman made a career change, basing his decision on “We instead of me”. And that’s why he’s now a first time news director.
All that and more below.
New News Director Hires:
Jacoby
WHNS-TV, Greenville, SC…MARYBETH JACOBY returns to South Carolina as ND for this now-owned-by-Meredith-but-soon-to-be-owned-by-Gray FOX affiliate. Details in this news release. She’s spent the last 3 1/2 years as ND for Gray’s WVLT-TV in Knoxville but earlier served as ND for ten years at WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC. Marybeth replaces KELLY BOAN who left in June after eight years as ND and now holds that job at WLNE-TV in Providence, RI.
Mason
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY…AARON MASON sheds the interim title and become ND for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate. GM MARC JAROMIN shared the news with the staff via this email. Alan’s been the interim ND since ROB HEVERLING left earlier this year, first to become interim ND for Scripps’ WXMI-TV (FOX) in Grand Rapids, MI. He’s now the ND for WDIO-TV in Duluth, MN.
Taylor
WFFF/WVNY-TV, Burlington, VT…ROB TAYLOR gets his first ND job at this Nexstar FOX/ABC duopoly. He’s currently the Assistant ND for Nexstar’s WJTV in Jackson, MS. Rob’s a veteran of the Chicago market, spending 18 years at WFLD-TV and WLS-TV. He’s also worked in Memphis and Greenville, SC. He replaces BOB ROCKSTROH who left earlier this summer to accompany his wife to a new job in Connecticut.
New News Director Openings:
Wieland
KCNC-TV, Denver, CO…we first shared news of TIM WIELAND’s move to the GM chair at this CBS o-and-o in an UDPATE earlier this week. More here. He’s worked there for 27 years (in two stings) with a short time at CNN in between. As we told you in the UPDATE, he’s the THIRD consecutive CBS GM to come from the news ranks and replaces the retiring WALT DeHAVEN.
Vaught
KTBC-TV, Austin, TX…congratulations to PAM VAUGHT who is retiring. She posted this note on Linkedin:
After almost 40 years in TV news I’m retiring. For the last 29 years I’ve been with FOX and 23 of those years at FOX 7 in Austin. I’m so glad to have connected with so many of you over the years. September 20th is my last day and then it’s time for some new adventures.
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN…we told you above that MARYBETH JACOBY is leaving to return to South Carolina as ND for WHNS-TV, the Meredith (for now) FOX affiliate. She was ND here for 3 1/2 years.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
Morning Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
Here’s your chance to lead the critical morning news daypart in a diverse, bustling, vibrant, affordable city! KPRC is hiring a morning news Executive Producer.
Every morning, millions of Houstonians rise and shine to get their kids to school. They head to work as doctors, nurses and support staff at the largest medical center in the world. They start unloading cargo at the busiest port on the Gulf Coast. And they head to offices, plants and refineries at the largest concentration of oil and gas companies in the world.
Our team of passionate and dedicated morning news journalists strive to connect with these viewers, through superior coverage of breaking news, severe and inconvenient weather that affects their safety, consumer investigations that impact their finances and by helping viewers navigate traffic disruptions to get them to their destinations safely.
As Executive Producer of this team, you’ll focus on a comprehensive approach to executing our winning strategy. Hiring the right people, giving them direction and guidance, coaching on-air staff to reach their full potential and ensuring the overall quality and winning attitude on one of our most important dayparts.
To learn more and apply, please visit this website:
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 8/8/21)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (new listing this week)
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 8/22/21)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (listed 8/22/21)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (new listing this week)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (relisted 7/25/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
KAIT-TV, Jonesboro, AR (listed 8/8/21)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (new listing this week)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA, (Weekend AM EP, new listing this week)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, relisted 7/25/21)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (2 openings, listed 8/8/21)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (new listing this week)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/1/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 8/15/21)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/25/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
WOWK-TV, Charlestown, WV (listed 8/22/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 7/18/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (relisted this week)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 6/27/21:
Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content
Listed 8/15/22:
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 8/1/21:
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Obituaries:
Rogers
Our update earlier this week told you of the death of former KENS-TV (San Antonio, TX) news director BOB ROGERS. Bob died last week at the age of 87. He helped build KENS into a powerhouse during his 27 years at the station. Two obituaries: the first from KENS, and the second from the San Antonio Express News.
Dobyns
One time WAVY-TV (Norfolk) news director LLOYD DOBYNS died last Sunday at 85 after a series of strokes. Dobyns, of course, was MUCH better known for his stint at NBC News, particularly as co-anchor of NBC Overnight with LINDA ELLERBEE. The New York Times has this obituary (which may be behind a paywall.)
Campbell
Finally, MARLENE CAMPBELL, wife of former Indianapolis (WTHR-TV) news director BOB CAMPBELL, died Sunday night from cancer. Doctors removed a lemon sized tumor from her brain last December. Bob and Marlene met at WTHR where she was a sales manager and were married more than 35 years. I hope to have more details about arrangements later.
Bob and I were at Missouri at the same time: he was a graduate student when I was there. A kind note would reach him here.
Names in the News:
Corn
MICHAEL CORN, the former executive producer of both ABC’s Good Morning America and World News Tonight has been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed this week by a former producer, KIRSTYN CRAWFORD. The new President of ABC News, KIM GODWIN, has called for an independent investigation of how the network handled the charges, which Corn denies. He is now President of Nexstar’s NewsNation.
Swink
In what seems to be a bit of unusual timing, ABC named Corn’s replacement at Good Morning America this week. SIMONE SWINK has been the senior broadcast producer for GMA, and first joined GMA as a writer in 2010. She’s been overseeing the second hour of GMA. More details in this story from deadline.com
Houston
We have a few more details about SHARON HOUSTON’s upcoming retirement as President of NBC’s Charlotte based NewsChannel, where she has worked since 1991. Sharon kindly shared the photo at right as well as this note which was part of what she sent her staff. Sharon began her career at WBTV in Charlotte, spent a few years in Atlanta at this CBS Bureau there, and ends back in Charlotte. Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!
Cardin
Speaking of retirements, congratulations to longtime KCCI-TV (Des Moines, IA) Assistant News Director DANA CARDIN who is retiring after more than 40 years at this Hearst owned CBS affiliate. He began as a reporter and moved into the Assistant ND job 25 years ago. Here are two notes, first the note from KCCI GM BRIAN SATHER and the second from Dana himself.
McCormac
In a rare move, a news manager will be the next chief engineer at KMOV-TV, the now-owned-by-Meredith-but-soon-to-be-owned-by-Gray CBS affiliate in St. Louis. BILL McCORMAC started as a photographer, and has served as chief photographer, executive producer, and, since 2010, news operations manager. Details in this email from GM JD SOSNOFF.
Holliday
And while we’re in St. Louis, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiled longtime newsman ART HOLLIDAY today, You know from our earlier reports that Art became ND for Tegna’s KSDK-TV (NBC) earlier this year, reporting to Director of Content CAROL FOWLER. He’s been there more than 40 years, starting in sports, was the first morning co-anchor, and has filled many other roles. Full disclosure: we worked at KSDK together and were at Missouri at the same time.
General Manager News and Notes:
A reminder that we told you above about TIM WIELAND’s appointment at GM for KCNC-TV, the CBS owned station in Denver.
Two other GMs were named this week:
Gentile
FRANCO GENTILE will be the next GM for Sinclair’s KPTM-TV (FOX) in Omaha. He’s currently the sales manager for the company’s Columbus, OH, operations.
And Nexstar named STEPHEN EATON GM of its Billings, MT, properties. He’s been the sales manager for cross-town competitor KTVQ-TV.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 29, 2021:
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
WCBS-TV 530 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019
KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KCNC-TV 1044 Lincoln, Denver, CO 80203
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
KUAN-TV 9680 Granite Ridge Drive San Diego, CA 92123
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
KTBC-TV 119 East 10th Street Austin TX 78701
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74105
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive; Knoxville, TN 37919
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main Street , Dayton , OH 45409
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac, MI 49601
KATC-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Road. Lafayette, LA 70506
KION-TV 1550 Moffett Street Salinas, CA 93905
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WJET-TV 8455 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Avenue Missoula MT 59801
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
**: Spanish language station