News Director

TEGNA; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic News Director to lead its innovative team in Des Moines. This role emphasizes creative storytelling and investigative journalism across multiple platforms, including digital and social media. The ideal candidate will inspire a culture of excellence, driving impactful journalism that engages the community. With a focus on collaboration and strategic vision, this position offers the opportunity to shape the future of local news in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Join a forward-thinking organization that values diversity and fosters professional growth, while providing comprehensive benefits and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical plans

Dental and eye care coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Free virtual doctor appointments

Free annual therapy sessions

Paid holidays

Qualifications

• 7+ years of content experience with leadership in news operations.
• Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the news department, ensuring high-quality content.
• Foster collaboration between teams for original programming.

Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Journalistic Judgment

Social Media Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Journalism or related field

Tools

Digital Content Management Tools

Social Media Platforms

Job description

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) serves local communities across the U.S. through trustworthy journalism, engaging content, and tools that help people navigate their daily lives. Through customized marketing solutions, we help businesses grow and thrive. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches approximately 100 million people every month across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. For more information, visit TEGNA.com.

WOI Local 5, the TEGNA-owned ABC affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa, is seeking an innovative, passionate News Director with experience leading teams and growing talent.

At Local 5, we have our eyes firmly fixed on the future, always looking for new ways to engage, educate and inform our audiences. We are looking for a leader who embraces creative storytelling and investigative journalism as key components of newscasts, as well as digital, streaming and social platforms.

The News Director oversees all content operations and is a leader in the strategic vision for station growth. The ideal candidate has excellent news judgment and strong management skills to own the big story each day.

Most importantly, this News Director should be a motivator who fosters an inspiring and inclusive culture.

Local 5 and TEGNA are re-imagining local news in the digital age – thinking big and being bold to deliver content to our audience on multiple platforms. The ideal News Director can deliver impactful journalism and develop a digital-first road map in line with the strategic vision of our company.

Responsibilities:

• Strategically lead, inspire and manage the news department.
• Oversee on-air and digital news content.
• Work closely with the news team to produce high-quality, relevant, local content that sets the station apart from competitors.
• Prioritize collaboration between television and digital content teams, along with marketing, to create original programming and breaking news coverage for all platforms.
• Foster, encourage and reward out-of-the-box thinking that leads to differentiation and success.
• Emphasize the importance of solid research to build credibility.
• Use consumer analytics to determine content.
• Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content.
• Lead a culture that owns enterprise reporting and breaking news across all content platforms.
• Inspire and coach superior, unique and engaging storytelling.
• Interact daily with all department heads in a mutual effort to achieve station goals and extend our brand.
• Perform other duties, as assigned, to drive and fulfill the mission while abiding by the values of this organization.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and news leadership experience highly desired or equivalent years of experience in news leadership.
• 7 years of content experience, including generation of original content, and 2-3 years managing other journalists.
• Successful innovative leadership, along with staff and product development skills.
• Top notch communication skills are an absolute must.
• Solid journalistic judgement and a news philosophy that emphasizes accurate, fair and unique local content, along with community engagement.
• Understanding of the tenets of professional journalism.
• Skills in producing engaging, content-driven newscasts and digital content.
• Strong social media skills, including an active news hound presence on Twitter and Facebook.
• Organizational skills and the ability to work under time pressure deadlines.
• Ability to calmly handle live, breaking news situations and changing events.

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.

EEO statement:

TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are proud 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 disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email [e-mail].