News Director

This is a Full Time Job

Reporting into the SVP of News for the WMAQ and WSNS Duopoly, this is your opportunity to set a groundbreaking editorial vision, champion story-centric content, and drive innovation that redefines how news connects with communities. Leveraging our brand-new, state-of-the-art news facility, you’ll inspire teams, elevate standards, and lead cultural and technological change in one of the nation’s most competitive markets.

What You’ll Do
• Set and execute a bold editorial vision in partnership with the SVP of News and News Director for WSNS, ensuring alignment with mission, pillars, and community promise for the Duopoly.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, diverse team of journalists; oversee hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
• Drive newsroom operations, including breaking news, major events, and daily execution of content, while fostering innovation and efficiency through new technologies and training.
• Inspire and motivate others to deliver exceptional results through collaboration and accountability.
• Act as a mentor and coach, while recognizing and addressing developmental needs to foster growth.
• Champion multiplatform storytelling and cross-platform strategy in collaboration with Digital and Creative Services teams.
• Use data-driven insights to guide editorial decisions, audience engagement strategies, and resource optimization.
• Plan and deliver enterprise journalism, special projects, and tentpole content to maintain a strong pipeline across platforms.
• Partner with Sales to identify revenue opportunities without compromising editorial integrity.
• Serve as a public-facing leader, representing the brand in community partnerships and events.
• Maintain strong labor relations and participate in union negotiations.

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7 years of newsroom leadership experience in a mid-to-large market.
• Proven success in multi-platform news strategy and execution.
• Strong editorial judgment, crisis management skills, and leadership presence.
• Deep knowledge of broadcast, streaming, digital publishing, and social media platforms.

Desired Characteristics
• Creative, innovative leader with a hands-on approach and a coach/player mindset.
• Skilled in change management and inclusive leadership strategies.
• Fierce competitor with a passion for winning across platforms.
• High-level technical expertise in emerging media platforms.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Experience managing unionized environments.