NEWS DIRECTOR - WCTV

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 WCTV:

WCTV, located in Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city, is searching for an established news leader who can continue to grow this dominant news team as we evolve in this digital age. You would be leading an award-winning newsroom that has earned the FABJ Station of the Year title three years in a row and has won back-to-back NAB Service to America Awards.

Job Summary/Description:

Culture is first; success follows.
If you lead by example, happily get in the trenches with the team, inspire innovative ideas, and promote a learning environment, your leadership style may mirror our needs.

We are a digital-first newsroom that has a four-person digital team. This group is hungry and very passionate about growing all digital platforms. The successful candidate understands how to harness the latest data analytics to develop strategies to win on digital. A proven track record of effective ideas that increase livestream plays and video views on CTV apps is required.

WCTV is also the home of Gray’s Florida Capital Bureau, housing a reporter and photographer. As News Director, you would play a key role in ensuring that the bureau is producing compelling on-air and online content that is applicable to viewers in 4 television markets across the Sunshine State.

Our next 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 ensure that our digital presence resonates with our audience's interests and needs.

As News Director, you would oversee all content operations and be the leader in the strategic vision for station viewership growth. The General Manager plays a key role in collaborating on this strategic vision with you.

Understanding the importance of the sales department turning special content opportunities into revenue-producing sponsorships is vital. Our news and sales managers converse openly and regularly.

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.
• Protect and defend our journalistic integrity.
• 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.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism and at least five years of news leadership experience
• At least 3-5 years managing other journalists.
• Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets.
• Proven hiring experience is a must.
• 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)

WCTV-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

• 3 - 5 years: At least 3-5 years of managing other journalists and at least five years of news leadership experience.

Education

Preferred

• Bachelors or better in Journalism

Behaviors

Preferred

• Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them