News Director Job at Civic Media Inc in Madison

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Civic Media has built a state-wide radio and digital media network in Wisconsin with the goal of championing the practice of democracy by empowering honest and informative local voices. We’re merging the legacy of radio with the immediacy of digital to deliver high-quality content to a growing audience via our 20 radio stations, websites, mobile app and social media. We work in a fast-paced environment that values communication, integrity, vision, innovation and collaboration in order to fulfill our vision of being the media platform that informs, guides and inspires our audience through the complex landscape of information, commentary and civic engagement.

SUMMARY

The News Director will lead a team of local reporters tasked with keeping their communities updated on breaking news and stories of significance. The ideal News Director is plugged into a variety of news sources and is a sharp, curious, hard-working person who is excited by new technology together with the power of radio, ready to lead the growth of an evolving team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coach and mentor a team of news reporters, encouraging them to excel as journalists and seek professional development opportunities.
• Switch seamlessly between editing radio and web copy on a daily basis, ensuring that advice is consistent among reporters, while maintaining standards of ethics as well as quality
• Provide constructive, clear edits with “writing for the ear” top of mind for radio stories; prioritize live reads and conversational tone for radio copy, and give feedback on stories in a timely fashion before broadcast or digital publication. Ensure that digital stories are well constructed, appealing and posted quickly.
• Participate in rotating on-air anchoring shifts, including evening and weekend coverage, as needed
• Create, maintain, and execute coverage plans for breaking news and ongoing coverage
• Take initiative and demonstrate leadership on Specials, series, and projects from idea to execution with a collaborative vision
• Develop and oversee the editorial focus of the newsroom in collaboration with the news team, staying on alert and demonstrating curiosity for story opportunities
• Support the news team as they regularly pitch and execute stories for local, regional and state-wide reach
• Participate in the execution of a content distribution strategy to include broadcast, digital, podcast, and social media, addressing local, regional, and state-wide audiences
• Attend major station events, regularly participate in on-air membership drives, and support grant writing/reporting as needed
• Represent the News Team at staff meetings
• Manage freelancers and interns
• Confers and collaborates with the Content Team on what topics are appropriate to pursue.
• Maintain a close working relationship with the Digital Team
• *The company reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCES

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, or related field preferred
• 3+ years of experience managing in a news environment
• 5+ years of experience working covering news and using strong news judgment
• 5+ years of experience in production and/or creative direction
• Deep understanding of the purpose and mission of local media
• Proven track record editing stories and working with staff to grow and develop
• Strong understanding of content creation principles, editing, and distribution techniques that will aid in the promotion of the News Team’s best work
• Demonstrated professional experience in editing and producing audio stories and in writing and/or editing news articles for print/web publication
• Experience with social media platforms, and community engagement tools preferred

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Civic Media is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.