January 25, 2026
Greetings:
We’re a little late tonight (again!) due to travel, but we do have some ND movement to report, with TWO new news directors and FOUR new openings.
Our list of open ND jobs inches slightly higher to 24.
We have a new paid ad for an Assistant ND in one of the hottest news markets in the country. It’s also one of the coldest markets in the country. That’s below.
There’s also a new post from longtime friend and newsletter supporter, BARRY NASH, with coaching tips for your talent.
ONE new GM to share, and a few items in Names in the News, including a survey about people who tell reporters ‘no comment’.
Be safe in the heavy snow and cold weather impacting so much of the country.
Newly Named News Directors:
Cathey
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA…STEPHANIE CATHEY moves within Lockwood Broadcast Group and takes over as news director for this FOX affiliate, She’s been the Managing Editor for the company’s ABC affiliate in Wichita, KAKE-TV (ABC) and has also worked in Anchorage and Huntsville. I believe she replaces CHRISTOPHER PAYNE who served as ND from March 2024, until late last year.
Murrieta
WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI…RUDY MURRIETA is the new news director for the Gray Media owned NBC affiliate. He’s a former ND in Tulsa and for a cable news operation in Orlando. He’s also worked in Atlanta as an assistant news director for WGCL-TV (now WANF-TV). At WEAU, I think he replaces JOE RADSKE who left last summer to become news director for WFRV-TV in Green Bay.
New News Director Openings:
Bonfield
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…Tuesday’s UPDATE reported the departure of KATHRYN BONFIELD from this Tegna owned CBS affiliate. Kathryn was only there a year, quite a contrast from her 13 year run as ND for Graham Media’s WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF first reported the move. She’s a former ND in Charleston, SC, and twice worked for WFLA-TV in Tampa.
Johns
WBFF-TV, Baltimore, MD…this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate has posted an opening for news director. DAVID JOHNS, who’s been the ND since the summer of 2021, is apparently moving to a new position within Sinclair and we’ll share that when we can. He’s also been the DC bureau chief for the company, and worked for WJLA-TV in Washington, as well as San Diego (two stations), Sacramento, and Santa Barbara.
Eller
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA…this Hearst Broadcasting ABC affiliate is looking for a news director. KIMBERLY ELLER is leaving after almost three years here to take a teaching position at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. Kimberly had previously been the assistant ND at two other Hearst stations. She’s also worked in Charlotte and for 17 years in Roanoke.
Clouse
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN…DAN CLOUSE has left this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. He’d been the news director there since last April. Dan had previously been the news director for Allen Media’s KIMT-TV (CBS), also in Rochester, for three years.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
Assistant News Director, KSTP-TV, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN:
KSTP 5 Eyewitness News is looking for an Assistant News Director to help direct and manage overall efforts for the news department.
KSTP-TV is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for the Twin Cities, part of Hubbard Broadcasting. KSTP-TV is a longtime market leader, and is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.
When you work for KSTP, or our other local, independently operated station KSTC, Channel 45, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community.
Minneapolis-St. Paul is known for its abundance of lakes, rivers and endless nature and park systems. One of the most highly educated metros in the world, The Twin Cities boasts a huge arts and theatre scene, world-class restaurants and the friendliest people around-known for being ‘Minnesota Nice’.
If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!
For the complete application and job description, please click here:
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (Boston market), listed 1/11/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 1/25/26, see ad above!)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 1/11/26)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 1/25/26)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 11/2/25)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 1/11/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (relisted 11/16/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WDCW/WDVM-TV, Washington, DC (listed 1/18/26)
WCVB-TV, Boston, MA (listed 1/11/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (Streaming Content EP/Host, relisted 1/11/26)
KAZT-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Digital EP, listed 1/18/26)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 12/7/25)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 12/21/25)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 1/11/26)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Nightside EP, listed revised 1/25/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 1/11/26)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (Cable stations EP, listed 1/18/26)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (listed 1/11/26)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (relisted 1/11/26)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (listing modified 12/7/25)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, listed 1/25/26)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (listed 1/11/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (Morning EP, listing revised 11/16/25)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 11/30/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 12/7/25)
KELO-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (listed 1/18/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (AM EP, relisted 1/25/26)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (Digital EP, listed 12/14/25)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, relisted 1/11/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Relisted 1/25/26:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Digital Content)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Executive Reporter)
Listed 1/11/26:
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Real Time Desk Manager)
Listed 12/7/25:
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Story Desk Manager)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (Executive Reporter)
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Tired of hearing ‘no comment’ from newsmakers? If so, you might want to participate in a new survey being conducted by the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri, working with the SmithGeiger research and consulting firm. Details here.
There’s a labor dispute brewing between staff at KEYT-TV in Santa Barbara, CA, and station owner News Press & Gazette.
YARILYS DOMENECH has been promoted to VP of the Telemundo News Service, effective tomorrow.
General Manager News and Notes:
MARCI DANIELS is the new GM for WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, MI. That’s the Nexstar owned NBC affiliate there. It was a short move for her…she’d been running Nexstar’s WSYM-TV in Lansing.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 25, 2026:
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]
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
KDEN-TV 4100 East Dry Creek Rd. Centennial, CO 80122 **
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 KOVR Dr. W. Sacramento, CA 95605
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St Baltimore, MD 21211
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53209
KVVU-TV 25 TV5 Dr. Henderson, NV 89014
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Road, Madison, WI 53719
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WTVC-TV 4279 Benton Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37406
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KSNT/KTKA-TV 6835 NW HWY 24 Topeka, Kansas 66618
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KAAL TV 1320 Salem Road SW Rochester, MN 55902
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station
