March 10, 2019
Thursday, March 14, 2019 UPDATE #2:
Greetings:
As promised, our second UPDATE of the day brings happier news…and updates a story we first told you about yesterday.
Varner
KIRK VARNER heads north to become the next news director for Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTP-TV (ABC) in Minneapolis. Here’s the news release distributed moments ago by the station.
We told you yesterday that Kirk was leaving his current job as ND for WSPA/WYCW-TV, Nexstar’s duopoly in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market. He’s been there 3 1/2 years.
He’s been an ND in a number of other markets and held executive jobs with several cable operations and you’ll learn in his detailed Linkedin page.
Anne W.
At KSTP, he replaces ANNE WITTENBORG who announced last December she would leave in a few months. Her next destination is unknown but she told me then she was looking for a new challenge and excited about the future. Anne worked here twice, in this stint for ten years, the last three as ND.
More in our full newsletter later this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Thursday, March 14, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
I’m sorry to report the passing of a multi time news director who died last week.
Hirsch
STEW HIRSCH was just 53 years old when he died last Friday in a Ft. Wayne hospital after what this obituary called a short illness.
His most recent news director job was at WFFT-TV, the FOX affiliate in Ft. Wayne. He left there last September and worked briefly as a salesman for a local Honda dealer.
Stew had held a variety of jobs both in and out of the business…you can learn more on his Linkedin page.
He’s survived by four children, his mother, and a sister. A celebration of his life will be held this Sunday in a suburb of Columbus, OH, where Stew had worked in three different newsrooms. (Details in the obituary above.)
Our sympathy to his family, friends, and former co-workers.
We anticipate another UPDATE this afternoon with much happier news.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
A veteran news director announces his departure but says his new gig won’t be ready to announce for a few days.
Varner
KIRK VARNER has announced that he is stepping down as news director of Nexstar’s WSPA/WYCW-TV in the multi-hyphenated Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market.
Kirk has been with the stations since August, 2015, after a four and half year stint as ND for WKRC-TV in Cincinnati.
He told the staff that he was very happy at WSPA, but an opportunity had come along that he couldn’t pass up, adding that he couldn’t give out the particulars on his new job quite yet, but expected to be able to announce the details “within a few days.”
Kirk’s also been a news director in Hartford/New Haven, CT and Buffalo, NY, as well as at ESPN in the network’s first decade. He was also Time Warner Cable’s VP of Local News and the force behind the launch of ten 24-hour local news channels for the cable operator in the late 90s including Bay News 9, Central Florida News 13, and News 8 Austin.
Kirk has promised to share his new job with me when he can, and we’ll let you know what it is when he does.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
The hits just keep on coming (as radio DJ’s use to scream…dating myself here, I know) this week as we have THREE new news directors, including ONE in the number one market. And we have TWO new ND openings to tell you about.
That brings our count of open ND jobs to 27. ONE of those jobs…in a pretty great place to live, by all accounts, is featured among our FOUR paid help wants ads.
In names in the news, just ONE move but we have FOUR other stories, including a New York state news manager updating his battle against MS, and tips on what to tell unhappy viewers when they call you comparing about severe weather interruptions.
And there’s ONE store about a GM turned corporate executive who’s retiring at the end of the month.
Read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY…VICKIE BURNS has been named ND for this Tribune owned (for now) CW affiliate. Vickie’s done some consulting work for Tribune since running newsrooms at NBC owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. She replaces AMY WALDMAN who spent eleven years there, the last four as ND. GM BART FEDER praised her passion for the station and for the kind of journalism that makes a difference in announcing the change.
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL…another ND hire at another Tribune station leaves PAUL CARON in charge at this CBS affiliate. Details here. He’s been the Assistant ND here since 2017 and came her from WGCL-TV in Atlanta where he was managing editor. Paul spent almost 30 years at CNN, including some time as a reporter in Miami. He replaces DENISE VICKERS who left to become a GM at WFXG-TV in Albany, GA.
KREX-TV, Grand Junction, CO…JOHN KIRBY is the new news director for this Nexstar/CBS station. John has what you could easily call a non-traditional background for a news director. He replaces GEOFF ROTH who left earlier this year after 18 months as ND and moved to KMTV in Omaha as news director there.
New News Director Openings:
Elwood
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA…we told you earlier this week that news director DEAN ELWOOD is leaving this Tegna owned CBS station after spending his entire 23 + year career there. General Manager ALBERTO MIER Y TERAN told the staff via this email. Dean’s been the ND since 2008 and, as you can imagine, has held many other jobs during his time there.
Schillinger
WQOW-TV, Eau Claire, WI…DAN SCHILLINGER is retiring after a long career, the last five years of which were spent at this Quincy owned station. He filled in some of the details in this email to me earlier this week, including his plans to continue to do some work for Quincy on a part-time basis. Congratulations, Dan!
Also, please note the ad just below for the open news director job at KIRO-TV in Seattle, WA, the CBS affiliate there.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA:
KIRO-TV in Seattle seeks a dynamic leader with solid news judgment to oversee all aspects of daily news and digital content. The News Director will be responsible for leading an experienced news team of 115+ in the execution of top quality newscasts while growing audience ratings and our digital products. This station broadcasts 5.5 hours of local news each day.
As a part of Cox Media Group, KIRO 7 News is dedicated to straightforward breaking news coverage and informing the community in Western Washington. Our team at Cox Media Group is creating innovative ways to deliver news and information, tell entertaining stories and hold the powerful accountable.
The News Director will provide strategic and tactical direction for day-to-day news coverage, breaking news, special projects, investigative reporting, special event coverage for all distribution channels, including creating content for OTT channels.
You will supervise executive producers, producers, and managing editor in carrying out the organization’s policies and goals, and you’ll work collaboratively to integrate digital platform into everything we create. You’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop a diverse staff, to include identifying, recruiting and retaining top talent from a wide variety of sources.
Click here and apply to join our team, and help us build the future of media together.
Executive Producer, WJAR-TV, Providence, RI:
WJAR, Southern New England’s News Leader, and one of America’s most successful NBC stations, has a rare opening for an energetic and creative Executive Producer.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the production of relevant, compelling newscasts with high production value.
Strong news judgment, communication, and leadership skills are a must.
Rhode Island is a small state, but we play big, often competing with Boston on big stories. If you are looking to dive into management, or move to a bigger market, you can’t ask for a better shop.
Our team is experienced, hard-working, and driven to stay on top. We’ve been #1 for 70 years – we’re looking for someone to help keep us there.
As an added bonus, you’ll get to enjoy a spectacular restaurant scene, oceanfront views, and some of the best beaches in America. (P.S. We hear the football team that’s 20 minutes from our front door is pretty good, too!)
To learn more or apply, please click on this link:
Newscast Producer (Weekend), KNTV, San Jose, CA:
KNTV is looking for a highly motivated Weekend Newscast Producer with outstanding news judgment and digital skills, a sense of good production value, and the ability to pitch great stories for a highly competitive, high pressure newsroom.
The Producer will be responsible for producing a newscasts in conjunction with the Executive Producer, Assignment Editors, Reporters, Anchors, Writers and other Producers. They will desktop edit, write and produce news content for broadcast, digital and web platforms. Successful candidates will be active on social media and understand how to leverage those platforms for all stories in the show.
Qualifications/Requirements:
Basic Qualifications:
* A degree in Broadcasting, Journalism or related field
* A minimum of 3 years’ experience producing in a broadcast or cable news environment in a middle-to-major news market.
Desired Characteristics:
* Strong news writing skills and the ability to write, edit, produce and gather content under heavy deadline pressure, without compromising accuracy or credibility
* Must be a team player and work well with Reporters, Assignment Editors, Writers and other Producers
* Must be active on social media and understand how to leverage those platforms for all stories
* Passion to develop and present story ideas
* Invested and engaged in the local community and authentically understands and represents the local viewer
* Knowledge and understanding of various media platforms, including broadcast, web and mobile
* Strong computer skills, with basic understanding of multi-media file formats
* A pioneering spirit with the desire the learn emerging technologies
Chief Content Officer, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver CO:
Rocky Mountain Public Media located in Denver, Colorado, home to Rocky Mountain PBS and KUVO Radio, is the largest statewide, member-supported, multi-media network in Colorado.
Rocky Mountain Public Media’s mission is to strengthen the civic fabric of the state by engaging audiences across platforms with high-quality, trusted content. To further this mission and to help this public institution transition into the Digital Age, Rocky Mountain Public Media seeks a full-time Chief Content Officer to lead its duPont-Columbia Award-winning team.
As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Content Officer works directly with the CEO and other organizational and community leaders to create relevant content engagement for Rocky Mountain Public Media’s current and future members. The Chief Content Officer oversees the Content team, including Television, Radio, Digital, and Programming. In addition, the Chief Content Officer works alongside the Development and Marketing team to ensure content is ultimately member-supported and that audience engagement and responsiveness is a pervasive value governing the work.
For more information, or to apply now, please visit this website.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 2/10/19)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (relisted 2/3/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 2/3/19)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (new listing this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 3/3/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 3/3/19)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/3/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (listed 1/6/19)
KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (listed 1/13/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 1/20/19)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 1/6/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 1/13/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 1/20/19)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (listed 2/24/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 2/10/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted this week)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 3/3/19)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted this week, see ad above!)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 1/27/19)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 3/3/19)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (PM EP, listed 1/27/19)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/30/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
New listings this week:
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WRKG, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 3/3/19:
Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO (Chief Content Officer) See Ad Above!
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV Digital Executive Producer)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital Executive Producer)
Relisted 2/10/17:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (National Executive Producer)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News (and other items):
Bonfils
DARCY BONFILS has joined WNYT-TV in Albany, NY, as its assistant news director. She’s worked in New York City, most recently as an EP for Spectrum NY1. She’s also worked at WABC-TV, WGCL-TV in Atlanta, and at the Weather Channel.
It’s Multiple Sclerosis Month and DAVE LONGLEY, chief meteorologist turned assistant news director at WSYR-TV in Syracuse, gave viewers of that ABC station an update on his battle against the disease.
KABC-TV in Los Angeles is celebrating its 50th anniversary as Eyewitness News. That celebration took a long trip down memory lane with this story.
VINCE SADUSKY, now in charge of Univsion, shared his plans for that company. You may remember him from his time with LIN Media and Media General…and Telemundo before that.
Finally, are you tired of dealing with unhappy viewers because you’re covering their favorite shows with live tornado warning coverage? Forbes Magazines gives you some material for those conversations.
General Manager News and Notes:
Richards
DON RICHARDS, whose last job in our business was as a group Vice President for Raycom Media, has announced his retirement at the end of the month. He ran stations in several markets for several owners before ascending to the executive position with Raycom.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 10, 2019:
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
News 12 New Jersey 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison, NJ 08837
News 12 The Bronx 930 Soundview Avenue Bronx, NY 10473
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121 (see ad above!)
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KARK-TV 1401 West Capitol Avenue, # 104 Little Rock, AR 72201
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive. Portland, ME 04103
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WQOW-TV 5545 WI-93 Trunk, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KMBT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
**: Spanish language station