VP News Director

FOX News Channel; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision coverage

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

FOX 2 Detroit is seeking a visionary Vice President, News Director to lead our newsroom in Detroit. The role focuses on reimagining local news, leveraging digital and streaming platforms, and mentoring talent while upholding journalistic integrity.

You will report to the SVP/General Manager, drive growth, and guide a forward-thinking digital strategy across broadcast, web, social, and streaming, while managing teams and budgets to deliver compelling local content.

Qualifications

• Proven supervisory, team-building, and motivational capabilities.
• Experience transforming traditional news operations into digital-focused, multi-platform operations.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and presentation skills with an approachable management style.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily newsroom operations in collaboration with SVP/GM; coach and empower journalists, producers, and managers.
• Resolve workplace challenges with tact and diplomacy; foster a fair, collaborative newsroom.
• Partner with Streaming to execute a digital-first content strategy across broadcast, web, social, and streaming.
• Direct the news department’s budget, expenses, technology integration, and long-term planning.
• Uphold standards for journalistic ethics, accuracy, fairness, and libel/privacy compliance.
• Build relationships with internal departments and Detroit community leaders.
• Negotiate personal service agreements and navigate labor contract administration.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Emotional intelligence

Strong communication

Digital-first mindset

Strategic thinking

Journalistic integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or Communications

Tools

iNews

Broadcast technology

Job description

OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY

Fox TV Stations FOX Television Stations (FTS) owns and operates 29 full power broadcast television stations, including stations in 14 of the top 15 markets and duopolies in 11. Eighteen are FOX Network affiliates, and together the stations produce approximately 1,300 hours of local news every week. FOX LOCAL, the company's free ad-supported digital and streaming product, extends that news, weather and local content across connected TV & mobile devices. LiveNOW from FOX expands the FTS portfolio even further as the only national streaming services to be truly live 24/7, covering breaking news and events as they happen.

JOB DESCRIPTION

FOX 2 Detroit is seeking a visionary, competitive Vice President, News Director to lead our newsroom in the vibrant Detroit market. We need an innovative storyteller and dynamic people-leader who can reimagine local news, move beyond traditional broadcast formats, and aggressively leverage digital and streaming platforms to elevate our brand. In this position, you will discover, nurture, and develop compelling, consumer-focused content that enlightens and empowers our audience daily. Reporting directly to the SVP/General Manager, you will serve as an empathetic, high-impact leader dedicated to mentoring talent, driving continuous growth, ensuring journalistic integrity, and executing a forward-thinking digital strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership & Team Development: Oversee all daily newsroom operations in close collaboration with the SVP/General Manager; actively coach, mentor, and empower journalists, producers, and managers to maximize their professional growth.
• Culture & Conflict Resolution: Constructively resolve workplace challenges, address team concerns with tact and diplomacy, and champion a fair, balanced, and collaborative newsroom environment.
• Multi-Platform Strategy: Partner with the Executive Producer of Streaming to execute a modern, digital-first content strategy across broadcast, web, social, and streaming platforms.
• Operational Management: Direct the news department’s budget, expenses, technology integration, and long-term strategic planning.
• Journalistic Integrity: Set and uphold strict standards for journalistic ethics, accuracy, fairness, and libel/privacy compliance.
• Community Engagement: Build strong relationships with internal department heads, corporate leadership, and key Detroit community leaders.
• Labor & Talent: Negotiate personal service agreements (PSAs) and navigate labor contract administration.

Qualifications & Requirements

Leadership & People Management

Proven track record as a strong, compassionate leader with exceptional supervisory, team-building, and motivational capabilities. Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive workplace situations with high emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and professionalism. Passion for talent development—discovering, recruiting, and actively cultivating high-performing journalism and production talent. Excellent interpersonal, written, and presentation skills with an approachable, open-door management style.

Experience & Background

Minimum of 5 years managing a newsroom team, with a track record of launching successful new programs. Proven leadership experience within a Top 30 TV market. Demonstrated success transforming traditional news operations into digital-focused, multi-platform operations. Practical background managing multiple hours of daily live newscasts and broadcasts.

Technical & Operational Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field preferred.
• Strong technical acumen across newsroom computer systems (including iNews preferred), broadcast technology, and engineering workflows.
• Thorough knowledge of media law, privacy issues, and journalistic ethics.
• Hands-on expertise in newsroom system optimization, budgeting, purchasing, and cost control.
• Forward-thinking insight into the future of local news, streaming, and digital distribution.

Why FOX 2 Detroit?

Be part of a dynamic, forward-looking media organization that values bold storytelling, continuous innovation, and investing in its people. If you are a visionary newsroom leader ready to build talent and shape the future of local journalism in Detroit, we want to hear from you.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable law.

Pay Rate / Range

Pursuant to state and local pay disclosure requirements, the pay rate/range for this role, with final offer amount dependent on education, skills, experience, and location is $165,000.00-195,000.00 annually.

Benefits

This role is also eligible for various benefits, including medical/dental/vision, insurance, a 401(k) plan, paid time off, and other benefits in accordance with applicable plan documents. Benefits for Union represented employees will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement. View more detail about FOX Benefits.

Company Culture

We’re disruptors. We’re big dreamers. We’re believers in the future, in possibility, in potential. We’re reinventing the world, every day. We create content for audiences big and small, global and local. We put our audiences first, and work hard to bring them stories they’ll love, wherever they are and however they watch, listen and learn. Whatever your discipline, from on-air talent to behind-the-scenes tech guru to business and finance, the career opportunities at FOX are exciting, rewarding and game-changing. We seek out the most talented individuals – the dreamers, the disruptors and the visionaries –and we want them to know that they matter. We’re committed to helping every single one of our employees feel valued and inspired, every day.