NEWS DIRECTOR - WIS

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 WIS:

WIS is the #1 local media organization in the capital city market of Columbia, South Carolina. As the top-rated broadcast television station serving South Carolina's Midlands since 1953, WIS offers the opportunity to join an award-winning culture built upon decades of market leadership.

WIS has won the South Carolina Broadcasters Association's Station of the Year award a record 17 times, as well as the Edward R. Murrow Award for Journalism Excellence, the National Association of Broadcasters' Service to America Award, the George Foster Peabody Award, and has more than 70 Emmy nominations in the last 5 years. Among the many notable former journalists who helped set our standard, NBC Today Show co-host Craig Melvin began his career with WIS.

WIS produces more than 60 hours of live, local broadcast programming per week, as well as original content for multiple digital platforms. The station offers a unique variety of multiplatform advertising solutions, sponsored content, and professional creative services for businesses of any size.

Columbia, South Carolina is a vibrant and growing capital city with a diverse population. It is home to the U.S. Army's largest installation for Basic Combat Training, Fort Jackson, along with the University of South Carolina and multiple other colleges and universities. WIS is located downtown, just two blocks from the South Carolina Statehouse.

Our community combines affordable quality of living with a variety of entertainment and activities to accommodate your lifestyle, whether it's our 50,000-acre Lake Murray, our Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team, the Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens, nearby Congaree National Park, or so much more.

Job Summary/Description:

WIS is looking for a News Director with impeccable news judgment and journalistic integrity who can lead an award-winning newsroom with superior communication, planning, and preparation. The ideal candidate will be a collaborator and motivator whose leadership style inspires our top-performing newsroom to achieve their highest potential.

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

• The successful candidate will have a proven track record of coaching and developing talent and enjoy giving consistent, constructive feedback to journalists.
• The ability to balance a commitment to owning the day's breaking news coverage while executing a strategic plan for special projects will demand exceptional organizational skills and communication.
• Leading and supervising all aspects of news content, including fostering a positive workplace culture where the team thrives individually and collectively.
• Finding and investing in opportunities for employees to advance their skills, while identifying the next generation of journalism leaders.
• Regularly evaluating content on all platforms to improve coverage and user experience, providing needed feedback to the team.
• Working collaboratively with a highly functioning station leadership team to establish, pursue, and celebrate achieving goals.
• Building a culture of workplace integrity where everyone feels visible, valued, respected, and a sense of belonging.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Minimum five years experience in news programming production, with at least two years experience in a leadership role.
• Experience guiding, directing, and motivating a team, including setting performance standards and monitoring progress.
• Experience establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Ability to identify the developmental needs of others and to coach, mentor, and inspire others to improve their knowledge of skills.
• Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets.
• Proficiency with newsroom and station technology.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to effectively listen to fully understand employee needs and communicate with a team to shape a solution.
• Coachable, committed, and aware, with the ability to accept candid feedback in the spirit that there's always room for improvement.

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)

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

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.

Gray Media encourages all new employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus virus before the first workday.

Experience

Preferred

• 2 year(s): At least two years experience in a leadership role.
• 5 year(s): Minimum five years experience in news programming production, with at least two years experience in a leadership role.

Education

Preferred

• Bachelors or better in Journalism

Behaviors

Preferred

• Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them