ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR - WBKO

Gray Local Media, Inc; Kentucky; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WBKO News in South Central Kentucky seeks an experienced Assistant News Director to lead daily newsroom operations and drive a winning multi-platform news strategy.

This role manages reporter assignments, coordinates breaking news, coaches journalists, and partners with the News Director on special projects. Ideal candidates have 3+ years newsroom leadership, strong ethics, and a proven ability to develop a diverse team across broadcast, digital, and social platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or related field.
• 3+ years newsroom leadership experience (Executive Producer/Managing Editor/Assistant News Director).
• Strong news judgment, writing, storytelling, ethics, and editorial decision-making.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and develop a diverse journalist team.
• Knowledge of digital-first content strategy and multi-platform distribution.
• Familiarity with ENPS or similar rundown systems, CMS, and live production.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily editorial coverage across broadcast, streaming, web, mobile, and social platforms.
• Coach, mentor, and develop producers, anchors, reporters, and newsroom staff.
• Improve rundowns, writing, showcasing, and overall newscast quality with producers.
• Review scripts and digital content for accuracy, fairness, tone, and audience impact.
• Coordinate breaking news, severe weather, and major-event coverage across platforms.
• Support First Alert weather coverage and rapid digital publishing.

Skills

News leadership

Editorial judgment

Multi-platform storytelling

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism

Tools

ENPS

CMS platforms

Live production workflows

Job description

Today, we are a growing multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first- and/or second-highest-rated television station in average all-day ratings across 116 of such markets that were measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 46 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WBKO:

WBKO is home to award-winning journalism in the heart of south-central Kentucky between Louisville and Nashville. WBKO is the dominant source for local news and entertainment in the Bowling Green area and operates the ABC, FOX, Telemundo, Heroes & Icons, and CW affiliates. We are proud to serve our community and nurture our employees to grow professionally in an encouraging environment. Bowling Green is the third largest and fastest-growing city in Kentucky and is "geared for fun" as the home of the Corvette, the Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball team, an active arts scene, countless caves, and hiking trails ready to be explored!

Job Summary/Description:

WBKO News, South Central Kentucky's #1 news station, is seeking an experienced, innovative Assistant News Director to help lead daily newsroom operations and drive a winning multi-platform news strategy. This leadership role manages reporter assignments, coordinates breaking news coverage, fills in where needed, coaches and provides feedback to journalists, supports digital publishing, and partners with the News Director on special projects. Ideal candidates are organized, detail-oriented newsroom leaders with experience in broadcast journalism, editorial planning, producing, digital coverage, reporting, and team development.

Duties/Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Help lead daily editorial coverage across broadcast, streaming, web, mobile, and social platforms.
• Coach, mentor, and develop producers, anchors, reporters, and newsroom staff.
• Partner with producers to improve rundowns, writing, showcasing, and overall newscast quality.
• Review scripts, rundowns, and digital content for accuracy, fairness, clarity, tone, and audience impact.
• Coordinate breaking news, severe weather, and major-event coverage across all platforms.
• Support the First Alert brand through timely, trusted weather and safety coverage.
• Collaborate with the Digital Content Manager to deliver urgent news quickly and effectively.
• Promote platform-specific storytelling for TV, streaming, digital, mobile, and social audiences.
• Work with newsroom leadership on future planning, audience growth, station priorities, and coverage strategy.
• Maintain high editorial standards while fostering a supportive, accountable, creative newsroom culture.
• Communicate clearly and calmly in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or a related field required.
• At least 3 years of newsroom leadership experience, such as Executive Producer, Managing Editor, or Assistant News Director.
• Strong news judgment, writing, storytelling, journalism ethics, and editorial decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop a diverse team of journalists.
• Knowledge of digital-first content strategy, current social platforms, and multi-platform distribution.
• Familiarity with ENPS or other rundown systems, digital CMS platforms, live production, field workflows, and modern video formats.
• Strong organizational, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver's license and ability to pass an MVR check required

Equal Opportunity Employer
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