July 15, 2011
July 19, 2011 UPDATE:
Terry Graham
1955-2011
Funeral services will be held next Saturday, July 23rd, in Albany, GA, for longtime news director and anchor TERRY GRAHAM. Terry died Saturday, July 16th, at the age of 56 after a long illness. Terry was a News Director in Gainesville, FL, Augusta, GA, and Meridian, MS. We reported in last Friday’s newsletter that he recently left WCJB-TV in Gainesville just a few months after he arrived there.
Terry is survived by longtime friend Melissa Howard, a brother, and two sisters. Our sympathy to his family, friends, and co-workers.
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
A busy week and a full report for you, featuring FOUR new news directors (we introduced you to three of them in a Tuesday afternoon UDPATE), and FIVE new openings.
That brings our count of open ND jobs to 31.
One of those newly opened jobs is featured in a paid ad this week, and we have another new ad for an EP job in California. We’ve also got an for a producer job in Ft. Myers.
And we have ads for two great opportunities for training, an ad from Poynter highlighting two upcoming seminars, and another ad from the Carole Kneeland Project offering a training session for news directors.
Lots of items in Names in the News, most of which involve people returning to stations for which they once worked.
Is it a trend? Could it happen to you? What are the warning signs?
(Sorry, I’ve been watching too much local news.)
All that and more after this week’s long list of ND changes:
Newly Named News Directors:
Schwaid
WTXF-TV, Philadelphia, PA…we reported earlier this week that STEVE SCHWAID is returning to Philadelphia as VP/News Director for this FOX o-and-o. Steve is currently VP of Digital Content and News for Meredith Broadcasting, based at WGCL-TV, Meredith’s CBS affiliate in Atlanta. He first joined Meredith in 2008 as ND for WGCL. Earlier in his career, Steve served as ND for WCAU-TV in Philly, part of a long career with NBC. He was VP of News and Programming for the NBC owned stations, oversaw the transition team when NBC bought KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco, and was ND for WVIT-TV in Hartford. He’s also been an ND in Tampa and Portland, ME, and worked in Dayton and Charlotte. At WTXF, he replaces KINGSLEY SMITH who was promoted to VP/News for Fox’s KTTV/KCOP-TV in Los Angeles after 3+ years as ND there.
Fabrizio
WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…in another move we reported on Tuesday, DAN FABRIZIO will be the next ND for WSAZ. He most recently was ND at WLNE-TV in Providence, and earlier served as a news director for WCBD-TV in Charleston, SC. He replaces GROVER TADLOCK as ND for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. Grover was ND there for not quite two years.
Maliska
WJHG-TV, Panama City, FL…GAVIN MALISKA returns to Florida as the ND for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. For the last year, Gavin’s been the ND for the Bonten Media group of NBC affiliates in Montana, based at KECI-TV in Missoula. Before that, Gavin was the ND for WOFL-TV, the FOX o-and-o in Orlando. He’s also been an ND for WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, and worked for FOX owned stations in Detroit and Chicago. At WJHG, Gavin replaces MARK WILDMAN who left the station in March after four months as news director.
Copley
KIMT-TV, Mason City, IA…JAIME COPLEY has been promoted to news director here. Jaime’s worked at the station for almost ten years. She had been the Executive Producer and an anchor for this New Vision owned CBS affiliate, and you can see the announcement of her promotion here. She replaces GREG BERRY who left in January when he was promoted to Assistant News Director of another New Vision station, WIAT-TV in Birmingham, AL.
New News Director Openings:
Walsh
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY…JERRY WALSH is being promoted to a corporate position for station owner Nexstar, so this CBS affiliate is looking for his replacement. Jerry’s been ND here for more than four years, earlier had been an ND in Utica and an interim ND at a station in Albany, NY.
Aubrey
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO…after 17 years with the station, the last eight as ND, CINDY AUBREY is leaving to take a job in city government as Chief Communications Officer for a new mayor in Colorado Springs. Before being promoted to news director, Cindy was the creative services director for this Cordillera Communications owned NBC affiliate.
Graham
WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL…TERRY GRAHAM has left this ABC affiliate after only a few months as news director. He most recently was ND and anchor for WFXL-TV in Albany, GA, leaving that job in April. He’s also worked in Meridian, MS. (Update: Please note that Terry passed away last weekend. Note the obituary above.)
KECI/KTVM/KCFW-TV, Missoula, MT…as reported above, GAVIN MALISKA is returning to Florida to be the ND for WJHG-TV in Panama City. He’s been the ND for this group of Bonten Media owned NBC affiliates for the last year.
Jessee
KSAX-TV, Alexandria, MN…CRISTI JESSEE is leaving for a new job which will be announced next week. Cristi has been ND for this Hubbard owned ABC station since August, 2009, and earlier worked in Sacramento as a reporter. She’s also worked as a field producer in Los Angeles, and as a reporter for stations in Grand Forks, ND, and Little Rock.
**** ***** ****
Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO:
Live in beautiful Southern Colorado! #1 KOAA/NBC and News5Now (24/7 News Channel) is seeking a News Director. Work for one of the best broadcasting companies, privately held Cordillera Communications, and most advanced news operations in the country (content management center with MMJ’s and intensive social media focus) in Colorado Springs/Pueblo Market. Established product and resources.
News Director candidates must have strong resource management skills, exceptional news judgment, extensive marketing knowledge, effective recruiter and excellent people skills. A successful record of ratings growth, budget maintenance and new media development is a must. You must have proven leadership, hiring and teaching abilities.
Three to five years of News Management is required. Opening is immediate as our previous ND was here 17 years and just left for position with the new mayor.
Competitive compensation/benefits are provided – send resume to:
Evan Pappas
President and General Manager
KOAA-TV
530 Communications Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
EOE
**** ***** ****
Executive Producer, KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA:
THINK TWICE BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS JOB!!!!
Why??
– You will be expected to be aggressive and fearless.
– You will be expected to be innovative.
– You will be expected to take ownership of our number one late news in town.
– You will be expected to work harder and dig deeper on stories.. covering the press release isn’t going to do it.
– You will be expected to lead, and make the tough decisions on a moment’s notice.
In other words, you will be expected to do all the things your current station won’t allow. This is not a job, this is a career maker. It will be difficult and challenging, but if you love news.. it will also be the most fun you’ve ever had
We are built on turning the important stories into interesting ones that compel viewers to watch. We ask the tough questions, and don’t let lawmakers off the hook when all they want to do is spin. We are a CBS Owned and Operated station, nestled between two beautiful rivers, and an hour from either San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Napa.
Applicants must have producing experience. Some managerial experience is preferred.
Apply for this position online by going to www.cbs13.com and clicking on careers:
**** **** ****
Newscast Producer, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:
WINK News-Southwest Florida’s news leader has an immediate opening for a news producer.
This is a large newsroom; tapeless & HD; we do 55 hours of news per week and offer growth opportunities! We are looking for someone with solid writing skills; a person who really wants to produce news that’s relevant. Must demonstrate solid news judgment, have strong organizational skills and be capable of working with others in a fast paced newsroom under deadline pressure.
One year producing experience in a television newsroom preferred. Education: College degree in the communications field required. We are also recruiting for associate producers. If you have a degree and an internship on your resume, you are a candidate.
If you have the skills and desire to join a dynamic and extremely competitive team, send your tape and resume to:
Rich Garcia
Ass’t. News Director
WINK News
2824 Palm beach Blvd.
Fort Myers FL.33916
**** ***** ****
Training Opportunities:
The Kneeland Project is accepting applications until Friday, July 29 for their October 12-15, 2011 session in Austin, Texas.
Thanks to Kneeland’s generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for 18 selected participants. The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as hotel and several meals. Participants cover only their transportation and a few meals — Kneeland takes care of the rest.
• What you need to do to win 2012 election coverage
• The latest trends in social media – and what your newsroom ought to be doing today
• How your internal and external systems need to be revolutionized
• Leading Millennials
• Ethics and leadership in a 24-hour socially networked world
Selected news directors will be joined by some of the best and brightest leaders in the industry, but they won’t provide didactic, one-way lectures. On the contrary. Kneeland is seeking applications from news directors with high-level expertise, insight, and experience to make a truly unique opportunity.
It’s an intensive program unlike any other. It’s practical. It’s highly interactive. It produces long-lasting results. News Directors return to their stations refreshed and ready to tackle the sometimes overwhelming challenges newsrooms now face.
Click here for more information and to apply. Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply today!
**** ***** ****
Don’t Miss These Signature Poynter Seminars:
Today’s television news anchors must do it all: report, write, edit, produce, connect on social media, coach staffers, help guide ethical decisions — and anchor the newscasts. This seminar will help new and veteran anchors hone the skills that make them go-to leaders in the newsroom.
Geisler
Poynter’s Jill Geisler and Regina McCombs, veteran broadcast journalists, will lead the session, along with other Poynter experts. Award-winning reporter/anchor Charles Benson of WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee (and alum of the seminar!) will join the teaching team.
You’ll learn:
• How to develop your reputation as a leader in everyday situations as well as major breaking news
• The latest tools for improving your newsgathering – in the field and online
• How to become a better coach, helping others improve their stories
• Ways to use social media tools to connect with your community
• How to make sound ethical decisions on deadline
• To master the multi-tasking that’s critical in today’s newsrooms, while minimizing stress
Another signature seminar, TV Power Reporting runs 8/22-26/2011, with Poynter’s Al Tompkins and Les Rose, CBS News. This cornerstone seminar will leave you with solid, practical ways to improve your reporting, photojournalism and ethical decision-making skills.
Tuition for each seminar: $1,100. There are some partial scholarship funds available. In addition, members of AAJA, NAJA and NLGJA are entitled to a 20% discount.
To apply for the anchor seminar, visit the Poynter website and click “APPLY NOW.”
To apply for the reporting seminar, visit the Poynter website and click “APPLY NOW.”
Questions? E-mail seminars@poynter.org
**** ***** ****
Other News Management Openings:
Assistant News Director:
WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 7/1/11))
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 7/1/11))
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 7/1/11))
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/1/11))
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/10/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 6/24/11)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 6/17/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/24/11)
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 7/1/11)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 7/1/11)
Executive News Producer:
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Weekend EP, listed 5/13/11)
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 5/8/11)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, new listing this week, see ad above)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 6/17/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/17/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 4/15/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (2 openings, AM & afternoon, relisted 6/24/11)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Special Projects EP, relisted 6/17/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 6/24/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/1/11)
KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA (PM EP, listed 7/8/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (relisted 6/24/11)
WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH (AM EP, listed 6/3/11)
KRXI-TV, Reno, NV (PM EP, listed 5/20/11)
Special Projects Producer:
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 5/20/11)
Managing Editor:
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/17/11)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/17/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 6/24/11)
**** ***** ****
Names in the News:
MARY BAYNES moves south (but stays in the CBS family) as she becomes the new weekend EP for KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. She’s been the Nightside EP for sister-CBS o-and-o KOVR-TV in Sacramento (the station is advertising for her replacement above). She joined KOVR four years ago as the weekend producer, and quickly moved to 10:00 producer and then Nightside EP.
Think you can’t go home again? Not if you ask these news managers who are returning to their old stations this week:
BRIAN NEAL returns to WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, as the morning EP. Most recently Brian was the Nightside EP for WGHP-TV in that market, but much earlier in his career he produced the 11:00 news for WXII. He later was promoted to KCRA-TV, the Hearst sister station in Sacramento, as a producer. He also worked for KPIX-TV in San Francisco before returning to North Carolina.
Also changing jobs in the same market and returning to an earlier employer is LEASA CONZE. She’s the new Assistant News Director for KVOA-TV in Tucson, where she worked earlier in her career as an anchor. She’s spent the last 18 years across town at KOLD-TV as a reporter, anchor, and producer.
Finally, JUSTIN BARFIELD returns to KHNL-TV in Honolulu as EP. He’s a former producer there. He’s spent the last five years as EP for KFSN-TV in Fresno, and also worked as a producer for KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco.
And apparently former news directors-turned-general managers can play the ‘back to my old station game’. NICK MATESI returns to KKTV in Colorado Springs, CO, as GM. Nick was ND there from 2003-2008, and earlier served as a news director in Youngstown, OH. He currently is GM of sister-Gray Television station KOLO-TV in Reno, NV.
**** ***** ****
The Full List:
To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Friday, July 15, 2011.
If you know of any additions/deletions/changes/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
WXXA-TV 28 Corporate Circle Albany NY 12203
KMSB-TV 1855 N. 6th Ave. Tucson AZ 85705
WFRV-TV 1181 E. Mason St. Green Bay WI 54301
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St. Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St. Waterloo IA 50703
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir. Colorado Springs CO 80905 (see ad above!)
WFIE-TV 1115 Mount Auburn Rd. Evansville IN 47720
KEYT-TV 730 Miramonte Dr. Santa Barbara CA 93109
KTVB-TV 5407 Fairview Avenue Boise ID 83706
KBAK/KBFX 1901 Westwind Dr. Bakersfield CA 93301
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd. Rockford IL 61105
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
WOAY-TV Rte. 16 South Oak Hill WV 25901
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St. Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV 1385 S. Pacific Ave. Yuma AZ 85365
KECI/KTVM/KCFW-TV 340 W. Main St. Missoula MT 59802
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV 5956 Smith Hill Rd. Utica NY 13502
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong San Angelo TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001
WAGM-TV 12 Brewer Road Presque Isle ME 04769
KSAX-TV PO Box 189 Alexandria MN 56308