NEWS DIRECTOR - WHNS

Job Description

About Gray Media:

Gray Media is a leading media company that owns and operates high-quality stations in 113 television markets that collectively reach 36 percent of US television households. 

We constantly strive for excellence. Through upgrading to the latest technology and seeking new ways to stay on top in our markets, we focus on training and development of the best and brightest employees in the business. 

About WHNS:

Fox Carolina is located in Greenville, South Carolina, consistently named one of the best small cities in the US. Our DMA (#36) includes Asheville, NC, and offers a competitive news environment. Fox Carolina is emerging as the news leader, producing 13 hours of news each weekday. Our team of award-winning professionals thrives in a fast-paced, yet fun, environment.

Greenville has an amazing downtown scene, revolving around the Reedy River, five-star restaurants and breweries, and miles and miles of walking trails. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Upstate and Western North Carolina offer lakes, mountains, and historical landmarks all within a short drive. Greenville continues to be named a top small city, a top foodie city, and one of the best places for young professionals in the country.

Job Summary/Description:                       

WHNS Fox Carolina News, located in beautiful Greenville, SC for the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson television market (Nielsen #36), is seeking an innovative, passionate News Director with experience leading teams and growing talent.

* Qualified candidates for News Director must have a keen understanding of strategic news content, multi-faceted digital operations, and the value of full social engagement by the entire team. We are looking for a leader who embraces creative storytelling and can utilize consumer analytics to guide content creation ensuring that our digital presence resonates with our audience's interests and needs.
* The News Director oversees all content operations and is a leader in the strategic vision for station viewership growth. The ideal candidate has excellent news judgment and strong management skills to own the big story each day.
* Most importantly, this News Director should be a motivational leader with people and talent development experience, who fosters an inspiring and inclusive culture.
* Fox Carolina is re-imagining local news in the digital age – thinking big and being bold to deliver content to our audience on multiple platforms. The ideal News Director can deliver impactful journalism and develop a digital-first road map in line with the strategic vision of our company.

Duties/Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

- Strategically lead, inspire, and manage the news department.
- Oversee on-air and digital news content.
- Work closely with the news team to produce high-quality, relevant, local content that sets the station apart from competitors.
- Prioritize collaboration between television and digital content teams, along with marketing, to create original programming and breaking news coverage for all platforms.
- Foster, encourage, and reward out-of-the-box thinking that leads to differentiation and success.
- Emphasize the importance of solid research to build credibility.
- Use consumer analytics to determine content.
- Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content.
- Lead a culture that owns enterprise reporting and breaking news across all content platforms.
- Inspire and coach superior, unique, and engaging storytelling.
- Interact daily with all department heads in a mutual effort to achieve station goals and extend our brand.
- Perform other duties, as assigned, to drive and fulfill the mission while abiding by the values of this organization.

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Job Requirements

Qualifications/Requirements:

- Bachelor's degree and news leadership experience highly desired or equivalent years of experience in news leadership
- 10+ years of content experience, including generation of original content, and 3-5 years experience managing other journalists.
- Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets.
- Successful innovative leadership, along with staff and product development skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
- Solid journalistic judgment and a news philosophy that emphasizes accurate, fair, and unique local content, investigative journalism, and community engagement.
- Understanding of the tenets of professional journalism.
- Skills in producing engaging, content-driven newscasts and digital content.
- Strong social media skills, including an active news hound presence on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
- Organizational skills and the ability to work under time-pressure deadlines.
- Ability to calmly handle live, breaking news situations and changing events. 
- Keen understanding of how to use local sports coverage to expand audiences.

If you feel you’re qualified and want to work with a great group of people go to https://gray.tv/careers#currentopenings, you may type in the job title, station call letters, or click on "apply now", upload your resume, cover letter, and references

(Current employees who are interested in this position can apply through the Gray-TV UltiPro self-service portal)

WHNS-TV/Gray Media is a drug-free company

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