News Director, WFDD

Job Description

The News Director leads WFDD Public Radio's local newsroom and sets the editorial agenda for daily news coverage across broadcast and digital platforms, ensuring WFDD's journalism reaches audiences wherever they encounter the news.

Essential Functions

• Set the daily editorial agenda for WFDD's newsroom and determine coverage priorities based on timeliness and relevance.
• Lead editorial meetings to review developments, assign stories, and ensure timely coverage of important local and regional news.
• Ensure WFDD consistently produces original reporting that advances stories and reflects what is happening in the community.
• Maintain high editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, clarity, and relevance.
• Shape daily coverage for the morning drive, WFDD's most widely heard daypart.
• Coordinate with producer and hosts to deliver timely newscasts, live updates, and reporter appearances.
• Ensure the newsroom is prepared to respond quickly when news breaks during the morning broadcast.
• Assign stories, deadlines, and guide reporters through the reporting process.
• Edit scripts and audio for broadcast and digital publication.
• Coach reporters on sourcing, interviewing, writing, and story structure.
• Maintain a balance of timely daily reporting and enterprise journalism.
• Identify opportunities for accountability and investigative reporting.
• Ensure reporting is prepared for both broadcast and digital publication, including timely online updates and multimedia storytelling when appropriate.
• Evaluate and refine newsroom workflows to ensure reporting moves efficiently from story idea to broadcast and digital publication.
• Strengthen editorial planning and coordination across reporters, producers, and hosts.
• Improve workflows to support faster reporting and timely response to developing stories.
• Expand reporting capacity through better planning and collaboration.
• Supervise and mentor reporters and editorial staff.
• Manage schedules and staffing to ensure coverage of daily news and breaking events.
• Track reporting progress and ensure deadlines are met.
• Provide regular feedback and coaching to strengthen newsroom performance.
• Coverage with regional public media organizations and journalism partners.
• Communicate with NPR and other national partners about story opportunities and contributions.
• Participate in statewide collaborative reporting efforts.
• Use audience insights, digital analytics, and listener feedback to inform editorial decisions.
• Ensure coverage reflects the interests and needs of the communities WFDD serves.
• Ensure WFDD's reporting is effectively published across broadcast and digital platforms, including web, mobile, and social media.
• Guide the newsroom in using digital publishing tools and audience insights to expand the reach and impact of local journalism.
• Serve as a fill-in host for local newscasts or other news programming as needed.
• Aid in major reporting projects or breaking news coverage when required.
• Assist with station fundraising activities, including on-air fundraising as needed.
• Represent WFDD at community events, journalism collaborations, or professional gatherings.
• Operate newsroom, recording, and broadcast systems as needed.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in journalism, communications, or a related field.
• At least five years of professional experience in a newsroom environment, including editorial leadership, reporting, or story editing.
• Demonstrated news judgment and ability to set coverage priorities in a fast-moving news environment.
• Experience assigning, editing, and developing stories for broadcast, digital, or multimedia platforms.
• Strong writing and script-editing skills.
• Ability to guide reporters and shape daily news coverage.
• Demonstrated experience responding to breaking and developing news, including emergency situations such as severe weather and public safety incidents.
• Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with audio editing tools such as Adobe Audition or similar software.
• Ability to work early morning hours as part of leading daily newsroom operations.
• Ability to handle personnel matters and confidential information responsibly.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience working in broadcast, public media, digital, or nonprofit newsrooms.
• Experience supervising reporters or managing newsroom staff.
• Familiarity with public radio news programming such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
• Track record of producing or editing impactful local journalism.
• Knowledge of issues affecting the communities WFDD serves.
• Experience contributing stories to national or regional news organizations.
• Experience with digital publishing systems, multimedia tools, and social media platforms.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a small newsroom environment.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary work primarily involves sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.

Environmental Conditions

No environmental conditions

Additional Information

WFDD is committed to building a strong and diverse newsroom. If you meet most of the qualifications for this role but not every single one, we still encourage you to apply. We are interested in candidates with strong news judgment, editorial experience, and a commitment to serving the community through timely, impactful journalism. To learn more about this and other opportunities, including our Morning Edition Producer position, visit wfdd.org/jobs.