News Director
KUOW
Seattle
,
WA
Application Deadline: Saturday, Feb 20, 2021
Description
KUOW has an outstanding opportunity for a News Director to champion the vision, strategy and growth of our news team. The ideal candidate for this position is an inspiring, experienced and mission-driven team-builder who will lead our 30+ person newsroom into the next phase of excellence, finding new and innovative ways to serve our community and our mission. As the leader of the newsroom and a member of KUOW’s leadership team, this individual will play a critical role in KUOW’s strategic planning and long-term success.
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for six consecutive years.
KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio is Seattle’s NPR news station. We are an independent, nonprofit news organization producing award-winning journalism, podcasts and events in service to the 3.9 million people in our coverage area. As a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, our mission is to create and serve a more informed public.
We are looking for an inspiring, experienced and mission-driven individual to lead our news team into the next phase of growth and excellence. As an innovative team manager and builder, you will pursue new and exciting ways to make KUOW’s newsroom even more effective at serving its mission and our community. As a persuasive and passionate communicator, you will develop and implement strategies to ensure the long-term success of the news department and KUOW.
KUOW believes attracting and retaining diverse staff is crucial to serving our community and fulfilling our mission to create and serve a more informed public. Women, Black, Indigenous and people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities and veterans are highly encouraged to apply.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Creates and implements KUOW Newsroom editorial vision, policies and priorities.
• Manages news content production and ensures that such content is consistent with the mission, goals, and editorial policies of the station.
• Supervises professional staff of editors, reporters and producers; provides orientation and training for all assigned staff; supervises news coverage, conducts annual performance evaluations.
• Manages resources: monitors news production budget; ensures that reporting produced by news staff, commissioned reports, or reports produced in collaboration with any other stations or organizations meets professional editorial and technical standards.
• Determines, oversees and coordinates online and digital editorial strategy and collaborates on new digital news products.
• May make public appearances on behalf of the station, including on-air fundraising.
• Works with other departments as needed and as directed by the Chief Content Officer.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
• Field reporting experience; broadcast or digital.
• Newsroom management experience, and/or considerable editing experience that included supervising a news team.
• Deep knowledge of and commitment to the tenets, ethics of journalism and the role of journalism in society.
• Demonstrated success testing and creating innovative content on all platforms.
• History of leading content making that has meaning, purpose and toughness, while taking risks on new ideas.
• Demonstrated history of attention to racial equity in hiring and editorial practices.
• Understanding and commitment to community engagement – Has modeled/lead an audience-centered approach to coverage.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Position reports to the Chief Content Officer
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervision of News Team
Requirements include:
• Bachelor’s degree and five years of journalism experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for stated requirements.
• At least three years of news management experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership abilities.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Desired:
• Broadcast AND digital journalism experience.
• Public Media experience.
• Budget management and strategic planning experience.
• Experience working successfully with union contracts, representatives and members.