News Director

Tegna; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Fertility assistance

Surrogacy assistance

Adoption assistance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Teladoc access

Spring Health therapy

Job summary

TEGNA's WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids seeks a strategic News Director to oversee all multi-platform content operations. Lead daypart teams, guide editorial priorities, and drive enterprise reporting that serves West Michigan communities.

Champion data-driven decisions and talent development while maintaining high newsroom standards across broadcast, digital, and streaming platforms. The role requires 5–7 years of leadership in a fast-paced newsroom, strong writing, social media acumen, and excellence

Qualifications

• College degree in journalism, communications or related field
• 5–7 years of news experience with newsroom leadership
• Ability to oversee and produce engaging, urgent, high-value newscasts
• Strong writing skills; experience with special programming is a plus
• Solid social media skills and understanding of audience engagement
• Experience with shooting, editing and content management systems
• Strong understanding of professional journalism principles
• Organizational skills for fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Responsibilities

• Lead all daypart teams to create unique, impactful newscasts across broadcast, digital and streaming
• Coach and develop producers for engaging, authentic storytelling
• Coach reporters and anchors to connect with viewers
• Lead recruitment to build a diverse newsroom
• Guide daily and long-term coverage priorities in editorial process
• Use research and analytics to inform editorial decisions
• Collaborate with news leaders to maximize audience reach across platforms
• Oversee planning and execution of special projects and community initiatives
• Lead coverage of major breaking news and severe weather with urgency and accuracy
• Perform other tasks as required by the VP of Content for the region

Skills

News leadership

Storytelling

Editorial judgment

Audience engagement

Social media

Data analytics

Team development

Communication

Newsroom management

Education

Bachelor's in journalism or related field

Tools

CMS

Video editing

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.

WZZM-TV, the TEGNA-owned ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, is recruiting a passionate, strategic news leader to oversee all aspects of our multi-platform content operation. This leader will champion WZZM-TV’s high standards for engaging storytelling, investigative excellence and content that is relevant, compelling and impactful across every platform. The ideal candidate brings a strong streaming mindset, creating and optimizing content for broadcast, digital and streaming audiences, and leads with sharp editorial judgment and a commitment to winning breaking news, leading weather coverage and driving strong enterprise reporting that serves our community.

The ideal candidate brings an interest and track record of developing talent, tracking metrics to make data-driven editorial decisions, leading staff growth and recruiting high-potential team members, all while fostering a collaborative and accountable newsroom culture.

Grand Rapids is a competitive market at the heart of West Michigan, serving communities from the region’s growing cities and suburbs to the Lake Michigan shoreline. The news landscape is broad, with major stories ranging from breaking news and severe weather to economic development, health care, education and public safety. West Michigan’s strong economy and major health care and manufacturing industries also create plenty of opportunities for enterprise and accountability reporting.

The News Director will work creatively and collaboratively with WZZM-TV’s newsroom and station leadership to ensure our journalism reflects the communities we serve and the issues most important to audiences across West Michigan. That means owning the day’s big story, leading through breaking news and major weather events, delivering consistency in presentation and developing distinctive reporting that provides context, answers questions and sets WZZM-TV apart.

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.

This is an opportunity to lead a newsroom in one of Michigan’s most vibrant regions and help shape coverage for communities across West Michigan, where local journalism plays a vital role in connecting, informing and serving a large and engaged audience.

Responsibilities:

• Lead all daypart teams to create unique, impactful newscasts that showcase WZZM-TV’s high-quality content across broadcast, digital and streaming platforms
• Coach and develop producers to execute newscasts in an engaging, authentic and audience-focused manner, including storytelling, showcasing and presentation
• Coach reporters and anchors to perform in a compelling and conversational way that connects with viewers
• Lead recruitment efforts across the newsroom, with a focus on building a team that reflects the community we serve
• Serve as a key voice in the WZZM-TV editorial process, helping shape daily and long-term coverage priorities
• Use research, audience insights and analytics to guide editorial decisions and content strategy
• Collaborate with news leaders to ensure alignment across platforms and maximize audience reach
• Oversee planning and execution of special projects and community-focused initiatives
• Lead coverage of major breaking news and severe weather events with urgency, accuracy and impact
• Perform other tasks as required by the Vice President of Content for the region

Requirements:

• College degree in journalism, communications or related field
• Minimum of 5–7 years of news experience preferred, including newsroom leadership and supervision
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and produce engaging, urgent and high-value content-driven newscasts
• Strong writing skills are required; experience with special programming is a plus
• Solid social media skills and a strong understanding of audience engagement across platforms
• Experience with shooting, editing and content management systems
• Strong understanding of the tenets of professional journalism
• Organizational skills and the ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

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]