Assistant News Director (morning)

TEGNA, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellness benefits

401(k) with company match

Teladoc & Spring Health access

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

TEGNA's WTHR-TV in Indianapolis seeks an overnight/early morning Assistant News Director to lead the morning daypart across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms. This transformative, people-first role partners with anchors, producers and the digital team to own the big stories and deliver trusted journalism as Central Indiana starts its day.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in news management, strong editorial judgment and a track record growing audiences across platforms.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of news management leadership in morning TV or real-time environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related field preferred.
• Ability to work an overnight/early morning schedule.
• Strong editorial judgment and cross-platform storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the station's morning daypart across broadcast, streaming, and digital.
• Lead editorial strategy and execution during overnight and early hours.
• Collaborate with anchors, producers, reporters, and digital teams.
• Drive audience growth and ensure trust in stories.

Skills

News management leadership

Overnight/early morning scheduling

Editorial judgment

Audience growth strategy

Multi-platform storytelling

Calm under breaking news

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related field

Tools

Newsroom editing systems

Job description

TEGNA Inc. helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

WTHR-TV, the TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, is searching for a transformational and people-first leader to oversee our morning daypart across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms. This is an overnight/early morning leadership position that plays a critical role in shaping our morning news coverage and ensuring our teams are positioned to deliver impactful journalism as Central Indiana starts its day. This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a legacy newsroom in Indiana's capital city, a thriving metropolitan area with a strong sense of community, a rich sports tradition and a dynamic news landscape.

This leader will uphold TEGNA’s values in every decision: demand the truth, work smarter, do the right thing and win. These values guide how we serve our audiences, support our teams and deliver essential journalism every day.

The Assistant News Director plays a central role in our newsroom transformation, directly overseeing the station's morning daypart and leading editorial strategy and execution during overnight and early morning hours. You will partner closely with anchors, producers, reporters and the story desk (digital team and assignment desk combined) to own the big story, deliver the most trusted weather information and elevate our coverage on every screen.

This role demands a coach who can grow talent, push innovation and inspire a newsroom committed to serving Indianapolis and Central Indiana with journalism that matters.

This position reports to the News Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly oversee the station's morning daypart, providing hands-on editorial leadership during overnight and early morning hours
• Own editorial decision-making for the morning daypart on all platforms
• Ensure content is competitive, urgent and rooted in context, accountability and solutions
• Shape daily story development with producers, reporters and digital journalists
• Lead breaking news coverage and special events with speed and clarity
• Champion WTHR’s commitment to earning trust in every story we tell
• Develop and execute a multi-platform content plan that reflects TEGNA’s transformation strategy
• Prioritize vertical video, content for OTT/CTV audiences and storytelling built for mobile-first users
• Optimize workflows for 24/7 content delivery across multiple platforms
• Drive experimentation with new formats, interactive experiences and innovative presentation

Audience Growth & Analytics

• Use analytics, research and audience behavior insights to guide editorial choices
• Execute SEO, push alerts, newsletters and social strategies that strengthen reach and loyalty
• Ensure content serves the unique needs of Indianapolis and communities across Central Indiana
• Coach, mentor and elevate producers, reporters, editors and digital journalists
• Deliver consistent feedback and build a culture rooted in curiosity, collaboration and accountability
• Support recruitment and development of high-potential talent
• Model leadership that reflects WTHR’s values, TEGNA’s values and the expectations of a modern multi-platform newsroom

Strategic Planning

• Collaborate with the News Director on long-term editorial, workflow and staffing strategy
• Implement new tools, technology and partnerships that make the newsroom more efficient

Qualifications

• 5+ years of news management experience with proven success leading a high-performing team
• Strong track record in morning television or real-time content environments
• Ability and willingness to work an overnight/early morning schedule to directly oversee the station's morning daypart
• Deep understanding of streaming, mobile platforms and multi-platform storytelling
• Strong editorial judgment, communication skills and ability to lead tough conversations
• Proven experience growing audience share across platforms
• Expertise in producing compelling, content-driven newscasts
• Ability to stay calm and decisive during breaking news and live coverage
• Understanding of the tenets of professional journalism and the responsibility to hold the powerful accountable
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related field preferred
• Familiarity with Indianapolis and Central Indiana or a strong interest in serving this community

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.

Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre-tax basis to TEGNA’s 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.

Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.

TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per year.

* Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.

EEO statement

TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We areproud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. We value and consider applications from all qualified candidates without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. TEGNA will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilitiesin accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email [e-mail]