February 16, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 UPDATE #2
Greetings.
Updating our earlier story…as you TV types are prone to saying.
ADRIENNE ROARK’s move from CBS to Tegna is now official.
Roark
She’s been named Chief Content Officer and will report to CEO MIKE STEIB. We told you earlier today that she was leaving CBS after about 3 1/2 years there with two different titles.
More on her new role in the official Tegna news release just posted to the Tegna website.
I should have more on this story this weekend in our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 UPDATE:
Greetings:
The New York Post has a shocker today…that a veteran CBS executive…and a former local news director…is leaving the network. And read on to see where the Post thinks she’s headed.
Roark
According to the Post, ADRIENNE ROARK’s departure was announced during today’s morning editorial meeting. Her current title is President, Editorial and Newsgathering for CBS News and Stations. She first joined CBS as one of the Presidents of CBS Local Stations, overseeing eight of the networks owned stations. That follows a long career at local stations as both a GM and news director. Her Linkedin page has her entire history.
I hope to have more on this story this weekend in our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 UPDATE:
Greetings:
NBC wasted little time in hiring its next o-and-o GM, and it’s a former news director.
Davis
JOEL DAVIS heads to Philadelphia as the next GM for WCAU-WSSI-TV (NBC/Telemundo) there. He’s spent the last seven years as GM for Capitol Broadcasting’s WRAL-WRAZ-TV (NBC/FOX) and previously was the GM for Scripps’ KGTV (ABC) in San Diego, where he started as news director and moved up the food chain. He’s also been a news director at KFSN-TV (ABC owned) and KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, where he started as a reporter/anchor and ascended to news director.
The move reunites Joel with NBC’s Chairman of NBCUniversal Local, VALARI STAAB. They worked together at KFSN, where she was GM and named Joel as the interim ND before she left for WTVD-TV. Her replacement at KFSN, ERIC LERNER, removed the interim.
Joel replaces RIC HARRIS who left earlier this month and quickly resurfaced as GM for Nexstar’s WGN-TV (CW) in Chicago. And Joel will be replaced…at least on an interim basis at WRAL…by HEATHER GRAY.
We’ll see you this weekend with our full report.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
It’s a slow week, with just ONE new ND opening and ONE new ND who’s giving up anchoring to become the news boss at his station.
That means our list of open ND jobs stays at 39.
One of those jobs is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad below and we have an ad for an Executive Reporter opening.
Sciline’s offering free interviews about the connection between heart health…and sleep, something that likely impacts too many of us! And check out the ad for Barry Nash and Company.
A new President for MSNBC is our only item in Names in the News, while we have TWO new GMs to tell you about.
Happy President’s Day! We’ll be back next week with our full report.
Newly Named News Director:
Franklin
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX…DARRELL FRANKLIN is giving up anchoring to be the ND for this Nexstar operated NBC/FOX duopoly. He’s a 33 year veteran of the station who started in production and moved to news 31 years ago. Darrell replaces MIKE SNUFFER who’s off to KATV in Little Rock as ND. Nexstar owns KFDX and provides services to Mission Broadcasting’s KJTL.
New News Director Openings:
Cook
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN…this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate is searching for a news director. BRIANNA COOK is leaving to take a communications job with the state of Minnesota. She’s been ND there since December, 2021, when she was promoted from morning anchor. It was her second stint there…the first began in 2009, interrupted by a job in Omaha. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad just below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN:
KAAL-TV (Hubbard Broadcasting) in Rochester, Minnesota is looking for a News Director to lead our team.
You will work with a great mix of experienced and young journalists who cover Southeastern Minnesota and Northern Iowa.
We pride ourselves in covering LOCAL news and LOCAL sports in our larger and smaller communities in the 12 counties we serve.
Home to the Mayo Clinic, the world’s foremost medical center, Rochester has been rated America’s most livable city over and over. With beautiful parks, great schools, easy and quick transportation, reliable public safety, a world class arts culture and a second to none foodie scene, Rochester is the place to work and live.
We are located just 1.5 hours from Minneapolis and St. Paul and 3 hours from Des Moines.
If you are an experienced News Director or an Assistant News Director or Executive Producer looking for your first ND position, this could be a perfect fit for you.
If interested in this role, please apply directly on our website at: www.hubbardbroadcasting.com
To learn more about the city of Rochester, Minnesota, please see this short video: Experience Rochester, MN
Executive Reporter, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:
Are you an experienced journalist with a passion for storytelling? Do you aspire to break into coaching and teaching leadership?
WSLS 10 invites you to join our team as an Executive Reporter, where you’ll lead a group of reporters/MMJs in crafting impactful stories that resonate with our audience.
In this behind-the-scenes role, you will spearhead and elevate storytelling efforts within our newsroom. This position blends strategic storytelling oversight with mentorship responsibilities, focusing on content development and guiding MMJs and reporters.
Situated in the scenic Blue Ridge region of Virginia, this opportunity at the NBC affiliate serving the Roanoke-Lynchburg market allows a seasoned news professional to shape coverage, nurture reporting talent, and develop leadership skills. The ideal candidate will provide direct guidance to field staff while enhancing the station’s storytelling strategy.
The full job description is here.
Interested applicants should submit their applications and resumes to News Director Scott Flannigan at sflannigan@wsls.com.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 1/26/25)
WTAE-TV, Pittburgh, PA (listed 1/26/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 2/16/25)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 1/19/25)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 1/12/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 1/5/25)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/9/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 2/16/25)
WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 1/12/25)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 1/19/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, relisted 1/12/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/25)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, released 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/5/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 1/12/25)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (Nightside EP, listed 2/16/25)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 1/5/25)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listing modified 1/12/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/25)
WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC (listed 2/16/25)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Nightside EP, listed 1/5/25)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville FL (listed 1/5/25)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, listed 2/16/25)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (Nightside EP, listed 2/16/25)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 1/5/25)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 1/26/25
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 1/26/25)
WPTZ-TV, Burlington, VT (listed 2/16/25)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (listed 2/16/25)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (relisted 1/5/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 2/16/25)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 2/16/25:
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)
Listed 2/9/25:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Reporter, title change this week)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA: (Executive Reporter, see ad above!)
Listed 1/19/25:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (News and Content Manager)
WJET-TV, Erie, PA: (Digital Content Manager)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
Relisted 1/5/25:
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Drop the interim title for REBECCA KUTLER at MSNBC. She’s been named President of the cable news channel. She joined MSNBC in 2022 after working at CNN.
General Manager News and Notes:
Harris
Our UPDATE earlier this week told you that RIC HARRIS has been named VP/GM for Nexstar’s WGN-TV (CW) in Chicago. Ric most recently was President/GM for NBC’s WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, a job he left earlier this month after almost ten years. He’d spent two years as GM for NBC’s WVIT-TV in Hartford. Ric’s also had a number of jobs outside of television as you’ll learn here.
Sebo
Gray’s KTUU/KYES-TV in Anchorage, AL, has named BLAKE SEBO as its next General Manager. He’s been the Sales Manager for KHBS/KHOG-TV in Fayetteville, AR. Here’s the news release.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 16, 2025:
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 **
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22209
WKMG-TV 4466 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804
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
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)
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WRCB-TV 900 Whitehall Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37405
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KINT-TV 5426 North Mesa Street El Paso, TX 79912
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd. East; Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
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
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
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
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Road SW, Rochester, MM 55902 (see ad above!)
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
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
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