News Director, Great Lakes Now
Detroit Public Television
Application Deadline: Sunday, Aug 07, 2022
Description
Who we are:
Detroit Public TV (DPTV) is the largest and most watched public television station serving Southeastern Michigan, the most diverse public television audience in the country. We’re also the state’s only community-licensed station, meaning we operate independent of any educational, government or other institution. Our funding comes from the community we serve.
Each week more than two million people watch our five broadcast channels, and nearly 200,000 people listen to our radio station, 90.9 WRCJ for classical days and jazzy nights. In addition, DPTV is building the next generation of public media with our rapidly growing digital presence that has grown to reach more than half a million unique visitors through our website, YouTube channels and social media platforms each month.
Our key values: diversity, engagement, trust, innovation, excellence, financial stability, and growth are evident in everything we do from the engaging content we provide, to the way we work with viewers, supporters, board members and employees to the local events we host connecting DPTV with thousands of our fellow community members each year.
Does the idea of building your career alongside a dedicated group of professionals with different backgrounds and experiences excite you? If so, we invite you to join us in our mission to provide public media that helps individuals discover new ideas, make informed decisions, and enjoy enriched lives.
For more information about DPTV, please visit the website www.dptv.org.
The Opportunity
We are actively seeking dynamic and diverse team member to join us in the role of News Director, Great Lakes Now in Detroit, MI.
Through multi-year grants from multiple funders, Detroit Public Television’s regional, multimedia Great Lakes initiative produces a monthly television program, posts daily content on the Great Lakes Now (GLN) website, collaborates with multiple media and non-profit partners, engages on various social media platforms and through virtual and in-person events, and creates and maintains an educational initiative built out of multimedia content.
The News Director will lead digital news content development by reporting and writing about the Great Lakes and drinking water issues for the website, recruiting and overseeing freelance writers and interns, developing and maintaining content partnerships, collaborating with other GLN team members and DPTV staff around digital content including social media, engagement, and for the monthly show, and contribute to DPTV’s efforts and other deliverables related to the Great Lakes bureau, its partners, and its mission. The News Director also will be the lead voice on social media for the Great Lakes Now initiative, developing a presence on multiple platforms and engaging with audiences, and will occasionally appear on camera in the monthly program, digital video and events.
Essential Functions
- Coordinate, assign and edit content from several dozen Great Lakes Now freelance contributors. Ensure their work represents the GLN content-focus areas and contains multimedia/interactive elements. Organize social media content related to website content.
- Contribute to the monthly show’s development and digital/social media elements through expertise in Great Lakes and knowledge of timely topics and the news cycle. Develop digital content to accompany the monthly television program.
- Report and produce multimedia features for GreatLakesNow.org that cover Great Lakes-related news, events, and issues, and represent the GLN content-focus areas. Create, report and/or write up to two articles or digital features each week for the website. The features will generally be journalistic in nature but adapted for digital presentation. Each feature may include:
o Multimedia elements
o Audience engagement elements
o Cooperation with DPTV’s digital, social media, and/or production teams. - Develop, maintain and integrate into GLN work media partnerships. Collaborate on work with existing networks, and seek additional content-sharing and cooperative reporting and engagement efforts.
- Create a “voice” on social media for Great Lakes Now in conjunction with other digital team members at DPTV. Represent Great Lakes Now/DPTV at events.
- Maintain and network with a Great Lakes “beat” of trusted sources to inform daily content.
- Have and continue to develop a deep and up-to-date knowledge of Great Lakes issues across multiple U.S. states, national policy and politics, and Canadian perspectives. Attend and potentially present at media and/or environmental conferences.
- Maintain and report data about content and website relative to grant reports and other funding-related efforts.
- Other duties as assigned.
Skills
- Strong journalistic, organization, and writing and speaking skills; including clear storytelling, enterprise reporting, planning and pro-active communication
- Excellent people skills, able to work effectively with other members of a team and other departments as well as with prospects and existing clients
- Ability to provide and receive constructive criticism to achieve high quality deliverables
- Ability to manage projects and resources effectively
- Ability to work independently under pressure with minimal supervision
- Ability to appropriately contribute creative ideas
- Excellent organizational ability with strong attention to details
- Ability to complete tasks within budget and time constraints and prepare necessary reports
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or related field of study or equivalent experience
- Strong writing and reporting skills as demonstrated on multiple platforms
- Digital abilities including multimedia content planning and integration
- Ability to work a varied schedule
- Passion for the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes region
- Ability to travel locally and internationally (to Canada)
Physical Demands
Individual must be able to:
- Type, and sit behind a desk for extended periods of time
- Work in the field under a wide range of climate conditions
- Look at video, computer screens, printed documents
- Drive on company business
Work Environment
Individual is exposed to a typical office setting with computer equipment and a TV studio or on-location site with some related business travel both within the US and internationally.
What you’ll get:
- Experience the rewarding feeling of knowing you’re part of an organization committed to the greater good of the community.
- Enjoy a flexible work environment with a hybrid in-person and work from home model.
- Continue to grow and learn through opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Share your input, knowing that your ideas are valued and always welcome.
- Be yourself! We believe your uniqueness makes you an even greater asset to the team.
How to Apply:
Send resume and cover letter to:
HumanResources@dptv.org
Human Resources
WTVS Detroit Public Television
1 Clover Court
Wixom, MI 48393-2247
*No telephone calls or third parties. Please include the title of the position in the subject line of the email.
Detroit Educational Television Foundation, d/b/a Detroit Public Television and 90.9 WRCJ, is an equal opportunity employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, marital status, military status, or protected veteran status. Employment decisions at Detroit Public Television will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. The specific statements above are not intended to be all inclusive.