NEWS DIRECTOR - WDTV

Job Description

About Gray Media:

Gray Media, or Gray, is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, formally known as Gray Television, Inc. The company is the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 77 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second-highest-rated television station, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 43 markets totaling nearly 1.5 million Hispanic TV Households. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Gray's additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WDTV:

WDTV (CBS), WVFX (FOX), EVFX (CW), AND EDTV (MeTV) combine to provide local news and weather to all of North Central West Virginia. CBS and FOX combine to carry a predominant number of games for the local favorite Pittsburgh Steelers, and FOX's Big 12 affiliation brings us our treasured WVU football games. We are the largest TV source for local news and entertainment in our area. Celebrating decades of service, and, as a local news leader, WDTV features a recently upgraded news studio and a news team dedicated to local news. We pride ourselves on breaking news and weather alerts, and digging deep into the issues affecting our communities. We're dedicated to informing the public, utilizing television, social media, and the area's only live-streaming newscast.

Job Summary/Description:  

WDTV is looking for a News Director to lead our news team. We are looking for a dynamic news professional who excels with high expectations, passion, and dedication. The candidate will lead the development of content for WDTV and a powerful group of social platforms. The qualified candidate should possess the skills to successfully lead and teach a diverse staff of journalists who seek to raise the bar of integrity and quality of the products. The News Director is a Department Head position and reports directly to the General Manager.

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

- Supervising and coordinating news staff and all efforts leading to quality, relevant content
- Make sure content is delivered to the region across multiple platforms with trusted accuracy and timeliness
- Set and disseminate standards and expectations for news and operations employees
- Work in conjunction with other department managers to accomplish the overall station's mission and goals.
- Review daily newscasts to ensure quality control and well-balanced newscasts
- Oversee the planning for news coverage
- Prepare and control news budget for operating and capital expenditures
- Create and implement strategic plans for audience growth
- Build and maintain key relationships to foster a positive news image within the community
- Approve all newsroom and operations personnel decisions
- Responsible for building, training, and empowering an effective newsroom management team and staff
- Responsible for effectively communicating departmental goals and plans, and ensuring those plans are carried out by staff
- Maintain a high level of confidentiality
- Protect and defend journalists' integrity of the news product.
- Effectively promote and execute collaborative efforts between other Gray properties
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned

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:

- Possess a deep understanding of news as it relates to the ever-changing digital landscape.
- A proven record of success in leadership, production and distribution of local news, and development of talent
- Strong leadership skills and excellent news judgment
- A successful track record utilizing multi-media digital assets, maximizing how news is covered and distributed
- A passion for production and storytelling, combined with an unwavering commitment to journalistic ethics and standards
- A community-minded spirit and vision to expand the stations’ outreach through coverage of the events impactful to the greater region we serve
- Success in growing ratings within key demographics
- Ability to work with all digital specialists to ensure social media growth
- Experience working with departmental budgets is a plus.
- Ability to teach and lead by example while using the latest technology
- Broadcast Journalism, Communications, or related degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent experience
- Previous news management experience is a plus.

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)

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

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