| July 24 – Update |
| ONE of the TWO Chicago ND openings has been filled, cutting YOUR chances of working in the Windy City in half. 🙂 DOUG WHITMIRE has been promoted to Vice President of News for ABC o-and-o WLS-TV. He’s a 20+ year veteran of the station who’s been the Assistant News Director since December 2021 and was the executive producer for 14 years before that. Doug first joined the station in 2003 as a newswriter, coming from WTVG-TV in Toledo, which, at that time, was owned by ABC. At WLS, Doug replaces the only ND he ever had there, JENNIFER GRAVES, who retired earlier this year after 22+ years as ND there. The other remaining Chicago ND opening is at FOX’s WFLD-TV, where MATT PIACENTE left in February and has yet to be replaces. Big changes today at the CBS owned station in Detroit (which also resulted in a big change at Scripps’ ABC station there, WXYZ-TV.) JENNIFER LYONS, who been serving as the interim GM for WWJ-TV, has been named Regional General Manager for both WWJ and WBBM-TV in Chicago, where she’s been the GM for almost three years after a long career at WGN-TV (now owned by Nexstar, long owned by Tribune) where she twice served as news director and spent just over a year as VP/News for Nexstar’s News Nation. Her first move in her new role was to name KENNAN OLIPHANT as VP of News AND Station Manager for WWJ. Kennan won’t have to move, as he has been serving as “Senior Director, News” for WXYZ-TV (Scripps/ABC) for the last two years (and was the Assistant ND before that.) Kennan is a Detroit native, began his career as a writer at WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit before working in several other markets in a variety of roles.. PAUL PYTLOWANY, who’s been running the news department at WWJ, moves to a new role as VP/Director of News Content and Special Projects. All these changes are detailed in two memos, the first from JENNIFER MITCHELL, President of CBS Stations, and the second from Jennifer Lyons. Because I am “Working for You” and “On Your Side” and…well, that’s enough…I have thoughtfully combined both memos into one document for your convenience. You can thank me when next we meet. |
| July 22, 2024 |
| TWO news directors jobs were filled this week, while we’ve added THREE stations to our list of open ND jobs. Our list of open ND jobs moves to 40. You probably know that Scripps is pioneering a new approach to community-focused reporting, and you’re invited to get a behind the scenes peek. This Thursday, July 25, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11a.m. PT Scripps is hosting a live, virtual event. The Texas Association of Broadcasters convention is nearing. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to witness the latest innovations in newsroom technology with Octopus Newsroom at TAB 2024. FOUR obituaries this week, including ONE for a current news director, TWO for former NDs, and ONE for a former radio ND who served as President of (then) RTNDA. No GM changes, and TWO items in Names in the News, including a cutback in local news production at a duopoly in America’s 23rd largest city (though its 91st biggest market.) Guessing it will be a busy week for news coverage given today’s big announcement by the President. Good luck with your coverage. |
| NEWLY NAMED NEWS DIRECTORS: |
WFXT-TV, Boston MA…SCOTT ISAACS returns to Boston as ND for this Cox Media Group FOX affiliate. He’s been the ND for Sinclair’s WJAR-TV (NBC) in Providence for the last seven years. Before that, he worked at Boston’s WCVB-TV (ABC) for 13 years. More in this news release. He may have his hands full: check out this Boston Globe story that ran a few days before he was named. Scott replaces SARAH BURGESS who left in April after 19 years, six as the ND. IsaacsWHAS-TV, Louisville, KY…KEITH HATTEN joins this Tegna owned ABC affiliate as ND. He’s been the ND for KPAX-TV in Missoula, MT, since late 2021. Here’s the note from GM LISA COLUMBIA. The move gets Keith closer to Indiana: he worked at three stations there for 14 years (and went to Purdue). At WHAS, he succeeds CHRIS GEGG who left for WXIX-TV in Cincinnati earlier this year.  Hatten |
| NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS: |
| WJAR-TV, Providence, RI…you learned above that SCOTT ISAACS is leaving this Sinclair owned NBC affiliate after seven years as ND to return to Boston as ND for WFXT-TV. KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT…and, since you LIVE for this type of information, you also know that KEITH HATTEN is leaving this Scripps owned CBS affiliate to become ND for WHAS-TV (Tegna/ABC) in Louisville. Keith was here almost three years. We’re also adding KTVQ-TV in Billings, MT, to our list of open ND jobs. We told you last week that KEEGAN HARSHA was being promoted to a new job as Statewide ND for Montana. We did not know at the time that he would be replaced as ND at KTVQ. |
| NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS: |
| ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR: KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 7/21/24) WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/1/24) WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/21/24) KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 7/21/24) WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 6/2/24) KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/7/24) WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/14/24) WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 6/16/24) KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/21/24) KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/21/24) WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (listed 4/28/24) KWES-TV, Midland, TX (relisted 7/21/24) EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24) KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP/Special Projects, listed 6/16/24) KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24) WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 5/5/24) KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 6/23/24) Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 7/21/24) WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/16/24) WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 7/21/24) KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 5/27/24) KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/1/24) KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 5/5/24) KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24) KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24) WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 7/1/24) WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 7/21/24) WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/21/24) WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24) WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/21/24) WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (two openings, listing modified 6/2/24) WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 6/9/24) WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/21/24) KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 7/1/24) WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/21/24) KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listing modified 7/1/24) WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24) KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24) MANAGING EDITOR: WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 6/9/24) Other News Management Openings: Listed 7/21/24:WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital Director)WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Director)Relisted 7/21/24:WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director) |
| OBITUARIES: |
SCOTT DUFF, news director for Gray’s KHNL-TV in Honolulu, lost his battle with tongue cancer this week. Scott was 59. New this edition: KHNL remembers Scott who worked there for two years. He spent 16 years as ND for WSFA-TV in Montgomery, AL, which also paid tribute to him here. Scott began as a newspaper sports reporter, moved to TV in Columbus, OH, (two stations) before moving to Kansas City and his first ND job in Topeka. Our sympathy to his wife, Kathy, and family, friends and co-workers in Honolulu. DuffLongtime WVIR-TV (Charlottesville, VA) News Director and Anchor DAVE CUPP lost his battle with Alzheimer’s this week. The station posted this story. Dave, a true gentleman ib my interactions with him, left WVIR-TV in 2005 and taught for almost ten years at the University of North Carolina before retiring to Texas, though he did continue some voiceover work. Dave was 74 and donated his body to science.  Cupp CURTIS BECKMAN, a longtime ND for WCCO radio in Minneapolis and a one-time President of what was then RTNDA, died July 13 at the age of 83. This detailed obituary describes a full life well lived. And KEN KLAGES, who spent two years as ND for KVOS-TV and radio in Bellingham, WA, in the 50s, died July 8th. Ken, who was 93 when he died, moved into jobs as Sports Information Director, first at Utah State and later at Purdue University. |
| NAMES IN THE NEWS (and other things): |
| Sinclair is making big changes to its two El Paso, TX, stations, KDBC-TV and KFOX-TV, the CBS and FOX affiliates there. Not surprisingly, it’s note MORE news and job eliminations are ahead. Details here. RTDNA’s annual salary survey is out, and surprisingly shows that TV salaries outpaced inflation. (I’ve talked to lots of people who haven’t seen that.) Here are the details from RTDNA. |
| GENERAL MANAGER NEWS and NOTES: |
| No news this week. |
| OUR LIST OF OPEN NEWS DIRECTOR JOBS: |
| 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: [email protected] WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601 WLS-TV 190 N State St. Chicago, IL, 60601 KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074 WRC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson Street Portland, OR 97201 KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146 Spectrum News Texas (based in Austin, TX) KSHB-TV 4720 Oak Street Kansas City, MO 64112 WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115 WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (news manager) WJAR-TV 23 Kenney Drive Cranston, RI 02920 WATN-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134 KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202 WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801 KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104 KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 ** KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501 KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701 WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201 KATC-TV, 1103 Eraste Landry Road in Lafayette, LA 70506 KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973 KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Avenue Medford, OR 97504 KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812 KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th Street Bismarck, ND 58501 KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX. 79761 KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763 KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Road NW Rochester, MN 55901 KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX, 79765 WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850 KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Ave. Missoula, MT 59801 WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330 KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Ave N., Billings, MT 59101 WTVY-TV 285 North Foster Street, Dothan, AL 36303 WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601 KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501 KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001 KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501 KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506 **: Spanish language station |
