New Orleans

Lee Sucherman is retiring after 36 years as a local TV sales account exec in New Orleans. He shares how he got his start, what strategies worked for him consistently over the year, and what advice he has for others in the field.

New TV jobs posted to TVNewsCheck’s Media Job Center include openings for an Executive Producer, a digital sales coordinator and a graphics design manager for stations owned by Hearst, Gray and Nexstar.

During the February 2021 ratings period, WVUE, branded as Fox 8, led all other stations Monday through Friday in morning, evening and late newscasts.

New jobs posted to TVNewsCheck’s Media Job Center include openings for a topical producer, a social video producer, and an assistant news director.

Although Hurricane Laura, a category 4 hurricane, spared New Orleans, it did hit the coast of Louisiana west of the city hard causing wide-spread destruction, and forcing many to evacuate to New Orleans. So WDSU stepped up and organized a telethon to raise funds to feed the hungry victims. “Our community knows how devastating it can be to lose everything in a hurricane,” said Joel Vilmenay, WDSU’s general manager.

At 3 o’clock in the morning in New Orleans, drivers lined up to receive free school supplies from WDSU, Hearst’s NBC affiliate there, as part of the station’s Student Connection School Supply Drive, even though the start time wasn’t until 9.

New jobs posted to TVNewsCheck’s Media Job Center include openings for a news director, executive producer, news anchor and reporter/MMJ in markets in Virginia, Idaho and Mississippi.

The donations included $100,000 from Sean Payton, the New Orleans Saints head coach. “During times like these, it is not only our duty but our privilege to join in and help our community,” said Joel Vilmenay, WDSU’s general manager.

WVUE, Gray’s Fox affiliate in New Orleans, together with all the Gray-owned stations in Louisiana, are airing a series of concerts that will feature numerous artists based throughout the state singing from their front porches, living rooms, backyards, or wherever they find themselves quarantined.

WVUE, Gray’s Fox affiliate in New Orleans, took a tongue in cheek approach to its Super Bowl Sunday strategy with a series of promos for its 10 o’clock news. “We went hyper local,” said Blaine Strawn, WVUE’s marketing director. “Granted, most viewers outside of New Orleans won’t understand, but we knew our viewers would.”