NEWS DIRECTOR - KOLD

Gray Media, Inc.; Tucson (AZ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market Leader

Community Impact

Professional Growth

Job summary

KOLD 13 News, part of Gray Media, is seeking a News Director to lead Tucson's top station with a digital-first mindset. You will oversee content gathering, presentation, and a high-energy newsroom culture that thrives on fast-paced, high-stakes coverage.

You will drive strategic decisions, mentor staff, and champion engaging, viewer-focused storytelling across all platforms. Join a market leader committed to excellence in local news and community service, with opportunities for growth and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of newsroom leadership (News Director, Assistant ND, EP).
• Exceptional critical thinking and editorial judgment under pressure.
• A passion for delivering news wherever audiences are.
• Ability to motivate a team and build relationships.

Responsibilities

• Drive high-impact daily strategies for digital and broadcast.
• Lead the team by recruiting, coaching, and retaining top talent.
• Master storytelling with visual, viewer-oriented coverage.
• Own breaking news and severe weather coverage.
• Innovate and collaborate across platforms for a unified station culture.

Skills

Proven Leadership

Strategic Mindset

Digital-First Drive

Dynamic Communication

Journalistic Integrity

Education

Journalism or Mass Communication degree preferred

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 KOLD:

13 News is a Gray Television station and the CBS affiliate in Tucson, Arizona. 70 years strong! KOLD is the strongest local television station in Southern Arizona and the #1 digital platform. We are committed to the highest standards of excellence in our local news, entertainment, information, and public service programming. We produce 62 hours of live, televised newscasts per week between KOLD and our shared services partner, KMSB Fox 11. If you’ve never been to Tucson, let us tell you all the things you’ll love: Plentiful sunshine, natural beauty, diverse culture, active lifestyles, great food, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, breathtaking views, unforgettable sunsets, challenging biking trails, community events, accessible natural locations for all ages… it would have been quicker for us to just say you’ll love it all.

Job Summary/Description:

KOLD 13 News is searching for a News Director who must have strong people and leadership skills, create and maintain a healthy work culture, have a digital-first mindset, understand sound journalistic principles, perform at the highest level during breaking news and severe weather, and oversee all content gathering and presentation in a visual and viewer-oriented storytelling style.

Are you a high-energy leader who lives for the win? Do you have the strategic vision to lead Tucson’s #1 news station into a digital-first future, and the dynamic personality to inspire a team to get there with you? We’re looking for a News Director at KOLD-TV who doesn’t just manage a newsroom but ignites it. You are a critical thinker who thrives when the pace is fast, the stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. If you’re ready to own the market across every platform—from the big screen to the one in the palm of our viewers’ hands’ we want to talk to you.

Duties/Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

What You’ll Do:

• Drive the Win:Execute high-impact daily strategies for digital and broadcast.
• Lead the Team:Recruit, coach, and retain top-tier talent in a high-performance culture.
• Master Storytelling:Direct visual, viewer-oriented coverage and story placement.
• Own Breaking News:Lead dominant breaking news and severe weather coverage.
• Innovate & Collaborate:Partner across platforms and departments to build a unified, unstoppable station culture.

What You Bring:

• Proven Leadership:3+ years of newsroom management (News Director, Assistant ND, EP).
• Strategic Mindset:Exceptional critical thinking and editorial judgment under pressure.
• Digital-First Drive:A passion for delivering news wherever audiences are.
• Dynamic Communication:Ability to motivate a team and build strong relationships.
• Journalistic Integrity:Rock-solid ethics and a track record of winning. Journalism or Mass Communication degree preferred.

Why KOLD-TV?

• Market Leader:Lead the top station in Tucson with the resources of Gray Media.
• Community Impact:Shape stories that keep Southern Arizona safe and informed.
• Professional Growth:Benefit from mentorship, training, and career advancement.

Ready to lead the best team in Tucson and make your mark? Let’s create the future of news together.

Qualifications/Requirements:

- 3 years of previous newsroom leadership is required
- Strong editorial judgment
- Ability to lead with a digital-first mindset
- Superior communication and organizational skills
- Degree in Journalism or Mass Communication is preferred
- Ability to work closely with other station department heads and managers within the company
- Ability to meet deadlines while handling multiple tasks

KOLD-TV/Gray Media is a drug-free company

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.