September 4, 2016

Sunday Sep 4, 2016

Greetings:

If you had no plans for tomorrow’s Labor Day holiday, you can spend part of the day reading a lengthy edition of our weekly newsletter.

While there is only ONE new ND to tell you about, and just ONE new opening, (leaving our list at 16 openings) we have lots of other items for your consideration.

For instance, help wanted ads for people with almost every level of experience:

A large group owner seeks an additional regional news executive.
THREE management jobs at network o-and-o’s in the top six markets.
An interesting news director job in North Dakota.
THREE EP jobs in top 20, top 60 and top 90 markets.
And even an ad for a faculty position at Indiana University.

We have more information on TWO obituaries of former NDs who shared a similar background.

Also, in Names in the News, the Justice Department has okayed a big station deal, a look at how one company is looking for new ways to do news in the digital age, news of SEVEN GM moves, details about a legacy for a late San Antonio ND, and a retirement for a longtime AP executive, and more.

Enjoy the holiday…or what will be left of it when you’re done reading this missive!

New News Director Opening:

KX Network, Western North Dakota…JIM OLSON has been promoted to Station Manager for this Nexstar owned operation serving Western North Dakota. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid help wanted ad below.

Newly Named News Directors:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX…SUSAN SCHILLER joins FOX as VP/News for this owned and operated stations. Susan spent 15 years as ND for CBS’s KYW-TV in Philadelphia, and 40 years with the network, with responsibilities at other local stations and at the network news division. More from Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF. Susan replaces BOB MORFORD who left earlier this year to become ND for WAFF-TV in Huntsville, AL, to be closer to his wife who lives in Nashville.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Director of Local Content Development, Nexstar Broadcasting Group:

Nexstar Broadcasting Group is seeking an accomplished news manager to help lead local content initiatives across the group and complement a dynamic Corporate Content team as we prepare to rapidly expand our portfolio of stations.

The position of Director of Local Content Development will work with our growing group of stations to advance our strong multi-platform approach by providing leadership with our broadcast news products, web and mobile content initiatives, and in social media engagement. Position will work closely with the rest of the Operations team to build on our Company’s approach to “Local” while working with our Senior Management on projects, brand development and market evaluations.

Content is the key to drive “Local” and the development of group wide content initiatives to grow ratings and revenue is essential across all local markets. At Nexstar, we have a dynamic group that believes in the quality of our local product. We’re looking for someone who understands local television and how to be successful at it and is not afraid to get it done.

If you are looking for a job that doesn’t involve travel, this is not the job for you. Ideal candidate should have at minimum 5 years of News Management experience.

Please access this link and provide us your information and tell us why you feel you are right fit for this opportunity. The position will be based at the company’s headquarters in Irving, Texas.

News Director, KX Network, Western North Dakota:

If you want to make a lasting impact on the broadcast industry, do something that has never been done before and create a legacy that will create incredible career path opportunities, then we have the job for you.

The KX Television Network in Western ND (Minot/Bismarck/Williston/Dickinson DMA), is looking for a dynamic and experienced News Director to lead and mentor a young team in a geographically challenging market.

The successful candidate must excel at organizing coverage strategies from multiple news bureaus, possess good editorial judgment, have strong leadership skills and understand how to position and showcase a newscast that is urgent and relevant to the viewer no matter where they live. The right candidate must be passionate about brand and content expansion and distribution to all platforms with an eye to the future for innovative things yet to come.

This position requires previous successful television news leadership experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills; bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.

KX Network is a CBS affiliate with a long history and commitment to the community. If you thrive on challenges, mentoring and growing people, continuing coverage and story showcasing, this is your job.

Click here to apply.

Assistant News Director, KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX:

If you are creative and are looking for a place to showcase your skill, then you should apply to be the next executive producer at KXAS-TV, the NBC owned station in Dallas-Fort Worth.

You’d be leading an experienced staff in a state of the art facility in the heart of one of the nation’s fastest growing regions. You will have the potential of building a team of producers all while making KXAS-TV a destination station.

Click here for more details on what we are looking for and to apply.

Assistant News Director, KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA:

The Assistant News Director for KNTV in San Jose, CA will be responsible for ensuring overall execution of newsroom activities in the absence of the VP News.

Implement tactical operations of newsroom while ensuring highest levels of journalistic, legal, television production and promotion standards are maintained. Oversee day-to-day coverage, big story, breaking news, weather and sweeps planning with an eye toward budget, payroll, staffing, field and news operations to meet operational goals.

Responsibilities include supervising newsroom personnel and editorial content. Announce the stories that will be part of each rundown and what angle to take with each one. Address how to market the stories giving specific language to the producers (both newscast & promotions) about the best way to promote stories. Assign stories to reporters and assign managers to reporters and newscasts. Provide follow up with reporters, reiterating the specific details of their stories – who must interviewed, video that must be shot, possible live locations, etc. Throughout the day, stay in constant contact with reporters to ensure they are staying on task and focused. Provide regular supervision to Producers and Executive Producers making editorial decisions and exhibit leadership by keeping Producers disciplined on the fundamentals of producing newscasts.

Must have at least 5 years of related work experience including: Direct responsibility for producing a news program and preparing rundowns and managing staff. To apply, please click here!

Executive News Producer, KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX:

If you are creative and are looking for a place to showcase your skill, then you should apply to be the next executive producer at KXAS-TV, the NBC owned station in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Click here for more details on what we are looking for and to apply.

Executive Producer, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA:

WTVR-6 has an opening for an Executive Producer. We are looking for a show doctor who can lead by example, coach excellence, inspire imagination and reward creativity. We need a leader who is “hands on”, who knows how to build up a lead story, craft a compelling newscast and is a decision maker with strong people skills.

We want someone who is proficient at using social media and understands the importance of engaging viewers on all platforms. Solid news judgment, impeccable writing, communication and organizational skills and positive coaching is a must. The EP will have overall responsibility for assigned newscasts, including oversight on story selection, content and production. Other duties and qualifications include:

Manage multiple newscasts to meet content objectives and newscast strategies to live up to the brand.
Set coverage expectations, hold show review sessions, and drive breaking news coverage
Collaborate with team to produce a first in class product.
Innovate, think differently and be creative.
Manage and develop producers, reporters and anchors through daily copyediting and discussions.
Ability to produce newscasts on occasion and work non-traditional hours, weekend and holidays
Assist in hiring, train, and managing of producers and reporters
Lead long-term planning for content and special coverage
Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience required
5 years previous news producing experience
Supervisory experience highly preferred

Send cover letter, resume and reel with a spectacular newscast you lead your team to produce. Qualified candidates should apply to WTVR-CBS 6 News Director, Sheryl Barnhouse, via email to: sbarnhouse@wtvr.com.

No phone calls please. EOE.

KxxvLogo

Executive Producer, KXXV-TV, Waco, TX:

KXXV News Channel 25, the Raycom Media ABC affiliate in Waco, Texas is looking for a visionary to build our broadcasts and digital platforms.

The right candidate will know how to serve viewers on their mobile devices and their televisions. We’re looking for someone with 3-5 years of producing and a track record of leadership. Excellent people skills and news judgment are essential to this job, including the ability to multitask under deadline pressure without throwing chairs across the newsroom.

You’ll also be called upon to run the news operation in the absence of the News Director.

We’re assembling a news leadership team at KXXV that will be driven to develop, execute, and evaluate a new vision, brand and commitment to Central Texas. Apply online now at www.raycommedia.com/careers. Include your resume and a cover letter explaining how you believe you can make a difference.

Please, no phone calls. EOE-M/F/D/V

Broadcast journalism (lecturer, non-tenure track), Indiana University, Bloomington, IN::

Practitioners of broadcast journalism with teaching experience – or those with aptitude for teaching – are invited to apply. Experience with a variety of platforms (from traditional TV station environments to streaming or social media formats) is desirable for this position.

Candidates will be expected to play a leadership role in growing our audiovisual curriculum and have the ability to teach courses at the beginning and advanced levels. Minimum education is a relevant Master’s Degree in the field of instruction. Interested candidates should review the job description and submit application materials on-line by clicking here.

Successful candidates for all positions will be able to affiliate with one or more of the units of the Media School: Cinema and Media Studies, Communication Science, Journalism and Media Arts and Production.

Interested candidates should review the job description and submit application materials on-line at the designated web address above. To ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted by October 14, 2016; however, applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.

Morning Executive Producer, KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO:

Kdvr Graphic

If you’re the first and not the second, we’d love to talk to you!

KDVR Fox 31 in Denver is looking for a Rock Star Executive Producer to oversee our weekday morning shows. We want a strong leader who is aggressive, competitive and creative! We don’t want a stacker! We want someone who will dig for overnight news and keep the shows updated and fresh. Must be strong with breaking news, good at copy editing, able to coach producers and really lead the morning crew! We want to mix up the morning news landscape and that means hiring a creative and aggressive Executive Producer…who likes the morning shift!

Our Executive Producers are responsible for managing all aspects of newscast content and play a vital role in our strategic plan to grow ratings and improve our product on air and on our digital platforms. You’ve got to own social media! And have the skills to contribute content to our web site. Must have solid news judgment, the ability to meet daily deadlines, work well under pressure, generate story and coverage ideas on a daily and long-term basis, manage a team of producers, and work with a large, diverse staff in a professional manner to ensure our content meets standards for editorial and technical integrity. Excellent communication skills are a must, as is prior management and major market producing experience.

Interested and qualified candidates are urged to apply on-line at www.tribunemediacareers.com JOB-ID 2016-44695.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (relisted this week, see ad above!)

KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (new listing this week, see ad above!)

WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 8/14/16)

KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 8/7/16)

WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 8/21/16)

WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (new listing this week)

WFIE-TV, Evansville, IN (listed 7/24/16)

KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 8/21/16)

KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 8/21/16)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (relisted this week, see ad above!)

NBC Boston (listed 7/31/16)

WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (AM EP, listed 7/4/11)

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (Special Projects/Investigative, listed 8/28/16)

KDVR/KWGN-TV Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 8/28/16, see ad above!)

WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (Dayside EP, relisted 8/14/16)

KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (Dayside EP, listed 8/28/16)

WBTV, Charlotte, NC (listed 8/7/16)

WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 8/14/16)

KPTV, Portland, OR (listed 7/10/16)

WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 8/14/16)

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Dayside & Digital EP, listing modified 8/28/16)

KCTV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, listed 7/4/11)

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (AM EP, relisted 8/14/16)

WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, listed 8/28/16)

KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, listed 8/28/16)

WFOX/WJAX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 8/21/16)

KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (PM EP, relisted this week)

KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 7/24/16)

WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/14/16)

WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (new listing this week)

WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listing revised 8/21/16)

WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (AM EP, listing revised 8/28/16)

WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (relisted 7/10/16)

WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/21/16)

WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (relisted 7/17/16)

KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, relisted 8/14/16)

WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 8/21/16)

MANAGING EDITOR:

NBC Boston (listed 7/31/16)

Obituaries:

Two former news directors died this week.

Both were named Bob.

Both ran stations in Washington, DC.

Both died of cancer.

And both were beloved by their employees.

Long

BOB LONG died in a Washington hospital Monday of metastatic prostate cancer at the age of 71. He was a former ND for WRC-TV in Washington, KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, worked for several other Los Angeles stations, and produced documentaries during a long and varied careers. Memorial services are being planned in both Los Angeles and Washington. More on his life and career in this obituary.

Reichblum

BOB REICHBLUM died Tuesday in Chicago from brain cancer. He was 58. He’d been an ND for WJLA-TV in Washington and WPLG-TV in Miami, but also served as the EP of Good Morning America, and was an executive at CNBC, WebFN, and the Reelz Channel. He also worked in newsrooms in Detroit, Philadelphia, and his native Pittsburgh. More in this interesting story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If you’ll permit me a personal note, I knew Bob for more than 30 years. We once shared season hockey tickets for the Detroit Red Wings. And since we reconnected a few years ago, I got an email from him every year on my birthday. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will miss those notes.

Names in the News:

The Department of Justice has okayed Nexstar’s acquisition of Media General, contingent on the sale of seven TV stations.

The Nieman Lab has an interesting look at how one large broadcast company is looking for new ways to practice journalism in this digital age.

Turell

Best wishes for a long and happy retirement to AP’s JOHN TURELL who’s retiring this week after more than 20 years as a Regional TV Executive. He spent the early part of his career in a number of newsrooms, as you’ll learn on his Linkedin page. Friends can email John at: jturell@mail.com

If you knew and respected longtime KSAT-TV (San Antonio) News Director JIM BOYLE, as so many did, you’ll enjoy this article about the efforts his widow and daughters have taken since his death from brain cancer in 2014.

Longtime Kentucky newsman JERRY SANDER is home and on the mend after a fall and a battle with pneumonia. He’ll have home health care for a while, but can have company for a short visit. And he’d enjoy your email sent to: jerronsan@gmail.com

Corrections and clarifications from last week’s newsletter:

WWTV/WWUP in Michigan (Cadillac/Traverse City) is a CBS affiliate, not NBC, as I told you in the item about SEAN MAHON‘s appointment as ND there.

I screwed up the note about CHRIS PETTIGREW‘s new job: He’s headed to KMGH-TV in Denver (Scripps/ABC), not WXYZ-TV in Detroit (also Scripps/ABC).

And I misspelled MARK PARRICK’s name in reporting his move to WDSU-TV as Assistant News Director.

Not one of my better weeks. Apologies to all.

General Manager Moves:

We may not have many news director moves this week, but we make up for that with an abundance of GM news.

Leider

BOB LEIDER is returning to Sunbeam Televison, (owner of WHDH-TV in Boston and WSVN-TV in Miami) as executive VP and General Manager. He retired from that job in 2014, but is returning now that his replacement, CHRIS WAYLAND, is leaving to become VP of Group Operations for Tribune Broadcasting.

JAY O’CONNOR, who’s run Cox Media’s KIRO-TV in Seattle since June, 2012, says he will leave that job at the end of the year.

As one new GM heads to Indianapolis, another is leaving.

Aitken

JAMES (JAMIE) AITKEN has been named GM of Tribune’s WTTV/WXIN-TV the CBS/FOX duopoly in Indianapolis. He’s currently running Tribune’s KDAF-TV in Dallas, once ran Belo’s Texas Cable News in Dallas, was a GM in Spokane and a station manager in Phoenix. It’s a return to Indianapolis for Jamie, who began his career as a Pulliam Fellow at the now-defunct Indianapolis News.

Friday was LES VANN‘s last day as GM of WISH-TV (CW) in Indianapolis. He’s headed to WFTX-TV in Ft. Myers, the Scripps-owned FOX affiliate.

SCOTT THOMAS has been promoted to GM for Raycom media’s KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO. He’s been the sales manager for that CBS affiliate.

KTEN-TV in Denison, TX, has a new GM. It’s DAVID TILLERY, a former GM for KETK-TV in Tyler, TX.

Finally…VICTOR HOGSTROM will be the new GM for public station KPTS-TV in Wichita, replacing one time news director MICHELE GORS. More here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, September 4, 2016:

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

KTTV/KCOP-TV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KTVT-TV 5233 Bridge Street, Fort Worth TX 76103
WPXI-TV 4145 Evergreen Road Pittsburgh PA 15214
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202
WIVB-TV, 2077 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14207
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Pl, Miamisburg, OH 45342
WSET-TV 2320 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg VA 24501
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
WAND-TV 904 South Side Drive Decatur, IL 62521
KRDO-TV 399 S. 8th St. Colorado Springs, CO 80905
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KX Network 1811 N 15th Street Bismarck, ND 58501 (see ad above!)
KARD/KTVE-TV 200 Pavilion Road W. Monroe, LA 71292
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501

* Spanish language station

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