News Director

TEGNA; Temple (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical options BCBS Texas

Dental & vision coverage

Fertility, surrogacy & adoption aid

Disability & life insurance

401(k) with company match

Teladoc access

Spring Health therapy

Paid time off

Nine holidays per year

Job summary

KCEN-TV, a TEGNA owned NBC affiliate in Waco, Texas, seeks a seasoned News Director to lead our 24/7 streaming and broadcast operation. You will drive daily editorial priorities, oversee breaking news, severe weather, and enterprise reporting for the Temple and Waco community, and mentor journalists to produce engaging, accurate content across platforms.

You will base decisions on real-time analytics and uphold high journalistic standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6+ years of newsroom leadership experience.
• Proven success leading multi-platform news operations with breaking news and enterprise reporting.
• Strong editorial judgment and storytelling instincts.
• Ability to lead change, coach and develop producers, reporters and on-air talent.
• Experience recruiting and building high-performing newsroom teams.
• Data-informed approach using audience analytics and performance metrics.
• Commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency.
• Excellent organizational, leadership and communication skills.
• Familiarity with the Central Texas area or willingness to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Lead all daypart teams in a 24/7 streaming-first operation.
• Coach producers to execute multi-platform programming with engaging storytelling.
• Coach on-air reporters across broadcast, digital and social platforms.
• Lead recruitment for newsroom positions to build top talent.
• Guide coverage focus and newsroom priorities in editorial process.
• Use research and analytics to guide editorial decisions and measure impact.
• Collaborate with content leaders to align linear, streaming and digital content.
• Oversee planning and coverage of events and community initiatives.
• Direct major breaking news coverage promptly and effectively.
• Perform other tasks as required by VP of Content for the region.

Skills

News leadership

Editorial judgment

Storytelling instincts

Multi-platform leadership

Coaching

Talent recruitment

Analytics

Journalism standards

Leadership & communication

Relocation willingness

Job description

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) 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 than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

About the Role

KCEN-TV, the TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate in Waco, Texas is recruiting a passionate news leader to oversee all aspects of our 24/7 story-centric, streaming and broadcast operation. The ideal candidate will uphold KCEN-TV's high standards for engaging storytelling, investigative excellence, and journalism that is relevant, compelling and impactful—with a sharp focus on breaking news, severe weather, politics, sports, showcasing what makes Central Texas one-of-a-kind and celebrating its rich history. This leader has a proven track record of developing talent, coaching teams and recruiting high-potential journalists. The News Director will collaborate closely with KCEN-TV news and station leadership to ensure content that is highly relevant to the Temple and Waco community. This includes driving daily editorial priorities, ensuring consistent execution across platforms and delivering context, enterprise reporting and exclusive content that helps audiences understand what matters and why. The winning candidate will be audience-obsessed, with experience using real-time analytics to guide editorial priorities. This leader will model TEGNA's values in every decision—demand the truth, work smarter, do the right thing and win—guiding how we serve our audiences, support our teams and deliver essential journalism every day.

Responsibilities

• Lead all daypart teams in this 24/7, streaming-first operation that showcases KCEN-TV high-quality content.
• Coach a talented team of producers to execute multi-platform programming in an exciting, captivating and authentic manner, including showcasing storytelling, presentation and developing new segments.
• Coach on-air reporters to perform in an engaging manner across broadcast, digital and social platforms.
• Lead recruitment efforts for all newsroom positions with emphasis on building a newsroom filled with A+ talent.
• Be a key voice in the KCEN-TV editorial process, guiding coverage focus and newsroom priorities.
• Use research and analytics to guide editorial decisions and measure performance.
• Collaborate with content leaders to ensure alignment of linear, streaming and digital platforms.
• Oversee planning and coverage of special events and key community initiatives.
• Direct major breaking news coverage promptly and effectively.
• Perform other tasks as required by the Vice President of Content for the region.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6+ years of newsroom leadership experience, including experience as a News Director or medium/large market Assistant News Director.
• Proven success leading multi-platform news operations with deep experience in breaking news, severe weather coverage, enterprise reporting and major community events.
• Strong editorial judgment and storytelling instincts with the ability to set daily coverage priorities and guide high-stakes decision-making under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, coach and develop producers, reporters and on-air talent to deliver compelling, engaging content across broadcast, digital, streaming and social platforms.
• Experience recruiting, building and retaining high-performing newsroom teams that reflect the communities served.
• Data-informed approach to journalism with experience using research, audience analytics and performance metrics to guide editorial strategy and measure impact.
• Deep understanding of professional journalism standards, ethics and accountability with a commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency.
• Exceptional organizational, leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage complexity, align teams and remain calm in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Familiarity with the Central Texas area, or a reason to relocate here, a plus.

Pay range and compensation package

• 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.

Equal Opportunity 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].

Recruiting Fraud Alert

To all candidates: your personal information and online safety are important to us. Only TEGNA Recruiters or Hiring Managers will reach out to you regarding consideration of your application or background. Communications with TEGNA employees will either come from a TEGNA email address with a domain of tegna.com or one of our affiliate station domains. Recruiters or Hiring Managers will never request payments, ask for financial account information or sensitive information such as social security numbers.