Assistant Director III, News

Nexstar Media Group; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company in Lansing seeks an Assistant News Director to oversee news programming and manage the news team. This role involves developing coverage strategies, mentoring staff, and ensuring high-quality news production. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and at least two years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years' experience in news programming production.
• Fluency in English and excellent communication skills required.
• Experience in leadership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assists the News Director with management of all aspects of the News Department.
• Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
• Critiques newscasts daily to improve coverage.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism

Job description

The Assistant News Director assists the News Director with all aspects of news, weather and sports programming production, and serves as the News Director in his/her absence.

The person in this job will wear several hats and have many different responsibilities - including, but not limited to:

• Serving as a newsroom leader and helping lead us into the digital future
• Overseeing day-to-day coverage of local news on air, online, and on a OTT/CTV app to be launched soon
• Working with the team to live our "Here For You" brand
• Helping create, plan, and execute multi-media special coverage initiatives
• Managing special event coverage
• Working with new reporters to help them with their story finding and storytelling skills, and to plan and craft their stories for both television and digital formats.
• Working with producers to help them craft shows, being mindful of integrating digital pushes
• Working in lockstep with the digital team to make sure website and digital efforts are up to date and we're employing push alerts when necessary
• Approving long-form and digital scripts
• Providing feedback to staff
• Helping write employee reviews
• Meeting job candidates and assist with hiring

We produce more than 30 hours of news a week on TV and have an award-winning website, and we prize local news.

We put a premium on teamwork, so we're looking for someone who works well with others - someone with a good sense of humor and someone who is constructive in their criticism. We're also looking for a problem-solver with good critical thinking skills.

Lansing is a state capital, home to a major university (with all the sports, arts, and culture that it brings), and we've got two General Motors plants. We're a great city and a great news market.

#LI-Onsite

• Assists the News Director with management of all aspects of the News Department (other than Production.)
• Assists with planning, staffing, training, and performance evaluations for the News Department.
• Consults on decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees.
• Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
• Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
• Assigns projects to staff and verifies that deadlines are being met.
• Ensures achievement of viewer rating goals.
• Determines programming and evaluation of equipment needs to produce quality programming.
• Responds to coverage questions.
• Serves as the News Director in his/her absence.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
• Fluency in English.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Minimum two years' experience in news programming production, with some leadership experience preferred. (Depending on market size.)
• Ability to identify the developmental needs of others and to coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Proficiency with computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines and other office equipment.
• 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.