Gene Kirkconnell
News Director at WKRG- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Olivia Pennington
During the timeframe that Gene and I worked together, I found him to be passionate about his work and an incredible ambassador for Local News. While never blurring the lines between News and Sales, Gene was no stranger to supporting fresh ideas in WRBL’s continued effort to connect and serve its community. As an Advertising Executive, this quality and know-how in a News Director is greatly appreciated. It was a pleasure to work with Gene. And I look forward to both of our continued success.
Aubrey Spears
When creating my resume reel, I had no idea where to start until I watched Gene's "Make a Great RESUME REEL - Journalists: Step by Step - How To Make Them Watch Your Video On YouTube" tutorial on his YouTube channel iTrustGene. It provided a detailed breakdown of the exact steps and the timing you should use per section of your reel to make your resume reel stand out. I was able to format my resume reel easily into the template Gene recommends. Within a WEEK of uploading my reel to YouTube, I was contacted by several employers recommending I apply for positions at their stations after they watched my reel. I highly recommend watching Gene's tutorials and using his advice in your resume reel!
Olivia Pennington
During the timeframe that Gene and I worked together, I found him to be passionate about his work and an incredible ambassador for Local News. While never blurring the lines between News and Sales, Gene was no stranger to supporting fresh ideas in WRBL’s continued effort to connect and serve its community. As an Advertising Executive, this quality and know-how in a News Director is greatly appreciated. It was a pleasure to work with Gene. And I look forward to both of our continued success.
Aubrey Spears
When creating my resume reel, I had no idea where to start until I watched Gene's "Make a Great RESUME REEL - Journalists: Step by Step - How To Make Them Watch Your Video On YouTube" tutorial on his YouTube channel iTrustGene. It provided a detailed breakdown of the exact steps and the timing you should use per section of your reel to make your resume reel stand out. I was able to format my resume reel easily into the template Gene recommends. Within a WEEK of uploading my reel to YouTube, I was contacted by several employers recommending I apply for positions at their stations after they watched my reel. I highly recommend watching Gene's tutorials and using his advice in your resume reel!
Olivia Pennington
During the timeframe that Gene and I worked together, I found him to be passionate about his work and an incredible ambassador for Local News. While never blurring the lines between News and Sales, Gene was no stranger to supporting fresh ideas in WRBL’s continued effort to connect and serve its community. As an Advertising Executive, this quality and know-how in a News Director is greatly appreciated. It was a pleasure to work with Gene. And I look forward to both of our continued success.
Aubrey Spears
When creating my resume reel, I had no idea where to start until I watched Gene's "Make a Great RESUME REEL - Journalists: Step by Step - How To Make Them Watch Your Video On YouTube" tutorial on his YouTube channel iTrustGene. It provided a detailed breakdown of the exact steps and the timing you should use per section of your reel to make your resume reel stand out. I was able to format my resume reel easily into the template Gene recommends. Within a WEEK of uploading my reel to YouTube, I was contacted by several employers recommending I apply for positions at their stations after they watched my reel. I highly recommend watching Gene's tutorials and using his advice in your resume reel!
Olivia Pennington
During the timeframe that Gene and I worked together, I found him to be passionate about his work and an incredible ambassador for Local News. While never blurring the lines between News and Sales, Gene was no stranger to supporting fresh ideas in WRBL’s continued effort to connect and serve its community. As an Advertising Executive, this quality and know-how in a News Director is greatly appreciated. It was a pleasure to work with Gene. And I look forward to both of our continued success.
Aubrey Spears
When creating my resume reel, I had no idea where to start until I watched Gene's "Make a Great RESUME REEL - Journalists: Step by Step - How To Make Them Watch Your Video On YouTube" tutorial on his YouTube channel iTrustGene. It provided a detailed breakdown of the exact steps and the timing you should use per section of your reel to make your resume reel stand out. I was able to format my resume reel easily into the template Gene recommends. Within a WEEK of uploading my reel to YouTube, I was contacted by several employers recommending I apply for positions at their stations after they watched my reel. I highly recommend watching Gene's tutorials and using his advice in your resume reel!
Experience
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WKRG
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United States
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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News Director
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Jun 2021 - Present
Leads Content Team in coverage of News, Weather, and Sports online, on social media, and on television to serve people who live in South Alabama, Northwest Florida, and South Mississippi. Leads Content Team in coverage of News, Weather, and Sports online, on social media, and on television to serve people who live in South Alabama, Northwest Florida, and South Mississippi.
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News Director
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Nov 2018 - May 2021
Gene increased audience on all content platforms. In particular, Gene's leadership and delivery of explosive digital audience growth (Video Views +270%, Page Views +220%, Mobile App Views +60%) recognized with Nexstar's National Digital First Impact Award. Gene built a high-performance culture of professionalism, collegiality, and high morale which leadership has recognized as a "station-best". Gene leveraged market-leading talent evaluation and development acumen to recruit and retain a deep roster of strong employees and interns. Gene's inclusive, supportive, and collaborative coaching style empowered team members to grow exponentially, succeed, and move up within the station, inside Nexstar Inc., and throughout the industry. Gene collaborated with revenue leaders to develop sponsorship opportunities and to maximize the monetization of those initiatives. Show less
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Director of News & Local Content
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Jun 2016 - Nov 2018
Led complete overhaul of all unit content and operations for dramatic quality and performance gains in the first 30 days and sustained high-performance growth on a monthly basis thereafter. Gene led the News, Production, and Master Control teams. Inclusive, encouraging coaching style empowered team members to increase their personal performance exponentially and fostered the bloom of "best ever" team performance and a professional, collegial atmosphere of friendly interaction and high team morale. Designed and relaunched website, mobile app, and social media platforms to improve digital content offerings and grow fan base. For instance, engineered the growth of the station Facebook page from less than 5K fans to more than 200K+ fans. Prudent orchestration of limited resources to maximize ROI in daily operations and on all projects. Consistently beat budget goals. Collaborated with Sales to develop and maximize sponsorship opportunities. Show less
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CEO
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Jan 2015 - Jun 2016
Copy Writing - Marketing - Media Consultation We craft content and messages that motivate. Copy Writing - Marketing - Media Consultation We craft content and messages that motivate.
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WVTM-TV
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United States
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Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
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1 - 100 Employee
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Vice President & General Manager
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Dec 2006 - Dec 2014
Dramatically increased unit profit. Added 18+ hours of news per week to expand the news footprint to 43+ hours of editorial content each week and grow news ratings. Added six hours per week of original, local programming to grow ratings in those time periods and garner new sponsorships. Launched sports niche websites and digital features to increase audience and sports sponsorships. Launched investigative journalism unit which produced year-round content, established a strong identity for the news operation, and won numerous awards. Dramatically strengthened the station’s reputation and presence in the community. Originated partnerships with leading non-profit organizations. One standout example is a telethon Gene spearheaded following the worst outbreak of tornadoes in Alabama history. The program aired on hundreds of television stations across the US and on websites around the world, raised more than $1-million, and funded the rebuilding of more than 300 homes destroyed or damaged by the tornadoes. Collaborated with universities in the state to launch an ambitious practicum experience for student journalists, the “Magic City Miracle Journalism Project”. As Media General, Inc. Alabama Television Group Leader, provided oversight to both WVTM-TV Birmingham, Alabama & WKRG-TV Mobile, Alabama for two years. Led build-out and relaunch as the first television station in Alabama to broadcast in high-definition. Show less
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WJBF-TV
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United States
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Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
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Vice President & General Manager
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Apr 2004 - Dec 2006
Led station in all aspects of operation to exceed unit financial targets. Reformatted, rebranded, and relaunched all local news and local programming to increase ratings and revenue. Collaborated with Sales and other department leaders to create and launch numerous multi-platform revenue projects including a $1-million Doppler Radar sponsorship. Launched news-share project with local FOX affiliate to produce nightly 10pm newscast for them. Collaborated with News Director and Digital Manager to launch video news podcasts in sync with the debut of Apple’s first video-capable iPod. WJBF was the first local television station in the US to do this. Command level and in-depth user-level knowledge of weather technology, severe weather coverage, weather positioning strategy, and weather program sponsorships. Served as featured speaker for Baron Services, Inc. seminars. Show less
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WCBD-TV
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United States
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Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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News Director
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Jul 2002 - Apr 2004
Authored and implemented research-based strategy to align all content and marketing efforts under singular station position. Led news team in the disciplined daily execution of news strategy to grow ratings and digital audience. Significantly strengthened operation’s severe weather, breaking news, and major story coverage. Responsible for all departmental budgeting including negotiation of talent contracts and other employee agreements. Worked closely with General Manager and General Sales Manager to develop and maximize sponsorship opportunities. Show less
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News Director
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Jan 2000 - Jun 2002
Led news team at main studios and in three remote bureaus to cover DMA across three states (Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska) in synced broadcasts on four different VHF transmitters. Helped manage installation and operation of the KSN Weatherlab at Exploration Place. This digital weather science facility was one of the first US television meteorology operations to originate forecasting and broadcast from an off-site location of this type. The operation included many first-of-a-kind technical and showcasing elements. It was the most popular attraction at the state’s premier hands-on science museum. The Weatherlab project spearheaded a revitalization of the station’s severe weather execution and significantly boosted its overall image and community standing to increase ratings and revenue. Along with News Director duties, also served as Marketing Director and Production Manager during tenure. Show less
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WNCT-TV
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United States
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Public Relations and Communications Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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News Director
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Dec 1997 - Jan 2000
Led top-to-bottom overhaul and relaunch of news operation to increase ratings. Led station in National Edward R. Murrow Award-winning coverage of Hurricane Floyd and the massive flooding which followed. Led top-to-bottom overhaul and relaunch of news operation to increase ratings. Led station in National Edward R. Murrow Award-winning coverage of Hurricane Floyd and the massive flooding which followed.
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FOX6 WBRC
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United States
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Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
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100 - 200 Employee
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Executive Producer News & Special Projects
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Oct 1995 - Dec 1997
Collaborated with News Director and Operations Manager to lead news team in Birmingham newsroom and three bureaus in all aspects of daily news gathering and presentation. Led production of ratings period special reports, news specials, and hurricane coverage. Member of the leadership team which successfully transitioned the station from being the nation’s leading ABC affiliate to become the nation’s leading FOX affiliate. Collaborated with News Director and Operations Manager to lead news team in Birmingham newsroom and three bureaus in all aspects of daily news gathering and presentation. Led production of ratings period special reports, news specials, and hurricane coverage. Member of the leadership team which successfully transitioned the station from being the nation’s leading ABC affiliate to become the nation’s leading FOX affiliate.
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Education
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University of the People
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Center for Creative Leadership
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Loyola University New Orleans
Community
