Assistant News Director

KAKE; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

KAKE in Wichita is seeking an Assistant News Director to lead the News Department, shaping content strategies across broadcast, digital, and social platforms while mentoring the staff.

You will guide breaking news, weather coverage, and enterprise reporting, working closely with the News Director to maintain editorial integrity and brand alignment.

This leadership role offers opportunities to influence community impact and growth of KAKE's shared storytelling.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ experience supervising television news.
• Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism or related field preferred.
• Familiarity with newsroom systems and software.
• Prior newsroom leadership roles such as Executive Producer or Managing Editor.
• Experience in enterprise or investigative journalism.
• Strong editorial judgment and commitment to quality, community-focused journalism.
• Collaborative leadership and ability to innovate.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operational elements of the News Department, including newscast production and script approvals.
• Lead breaking news and severe weather coverage with accuracy and speed.
• Partner with the News Director to execute newsroom strategy and brand alignment.
• Oversee personnel assignments and staffing decisions.
• Direct editorial meetings and oversee local, state, national, and international coverage.
• Drive enterprise content and investigative initiatives that enhance accountability reporting.
• Ensure consistency on KAKE platforms: digital, broadcast, and social.
• Recruit, hire, and onboard newsroom staff and manage performance issues.
• Collaborate with reporters, anchors, and producers on story development and presentation.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Editorial judgment

Mentoring staff

Newsroom strategy

Cross-platform storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism or related field

Job description

KAKE is seeking a hands-onindividual for the position of Assistant News Director. The qualified candidate will be responsible for the overall operations of the News Department as assigned by the News Director. This person will execute content strategies across all platforms.

This individual will lead staff in making critical editorial decisions, works to mentor staff and ensures high-quality, compelling newscasts and digital content. The successful candidate will work closely with the News Director and newsroom leaders to execute coverage, lead breaking news and weather, and develop enterprise storytelling that brings clarity to a variety of topics.

Primary Duties and Key Responsibilities

• Supervise all daily operational elements of the News Department including newscast production, script review and approvals, editorial leadership, daily development and research of local story ideas and quality control.
• Aggressively lead breaking news and severe weather coverage, with a dedication to accuracy, efficiency in airing or posting information and overall impact.
• Work closely with the News Director to execute newsroom strategy, vision and consistency with brand alignment.
• Oversee the use and assignment of personnel while creating a product that defines journalistic integrity.
• Supervise gathering of local, state, national and international stories to create a fast-paced, solution-based newscasts resulting in a market-leading product.
• Help direct daily editorial meetings.
• Develop daily and long-term enterprise content.
• Work continuously with reporters, anchors and producers on story development, newscast presentation and elements that lead to KAKE ownership of a story.
• Assist in oversight of special projects and investigative initiatives that drive accountability reporting.
• Ensure consistency and accuracy on all KAKE platforms: digital, broadcast, social media.
• Assist in recruiting, hiring and onboarding personnel.
• Assist in personnel issues including promotion and discipline as necessary.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment with the ability to handle all elements of breaking news or weather, effective leadership in sometimes challenging situations.

Experience and Education

• At least 5 years’ experience as a supervisor in television news.
• Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism or related field is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with newsroom systems and software
• Prior newsroom leadership experience as Executive Producer, Managing Editor or similar role.
• Experience in enterprise or investigative journalism
• Known to demonstrate strong editorial judgment
• Passion for impactful, community-focused journalism.
• A commitment to innovation requiring a collaborative effort and team engagement.

Why KAKE?

Lead one of the Midwest's most respected local newsrooms. KAKE is looking for an innovative, collaborative Assistant News Director who is passionate about breaking news, impactful storytelling, investigative journalism, and growing audiences across broadcast, digital, and social platforms. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of a legacy newsroom that is investing in innovation, people, and community journalism.

Lead and grow a legacy news brand with a history of strong storytelling and community impact.

Opportunity to make an immediate impact while developing a vision of growth for KAKE as part of a collaborative leadership team.

KAKE is the current Kansas Association of Broadcasters Station of the Year.

About Wichita, Kansas

Wichita offers the perfect balance of professional opportunity and quality of life. As the largest city in Kansas, it combines the amenities of a major metro with an affordable cost of living, short commute times, and welcoming neighborhoods all in a metropolitan setting. The region features a thriving arts and dining scene, year-round festivals and sporting events, excellent parks and outdoor recreation. Whether you're building a career, raising a family, or simply looking for a community where you can make a meaningful impact, Wichita is a place where both journalists and their families can thrive.

Mark Kurtz
Corporate Director of News
Lockwood Broadcast Group
[e-mail]
No telephone calls please

Lockwood Broadcast Group and KAKE provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Pre-employment drug test is required along with a background screen as allowed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations.