News Director, WFDD

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Job Description Summary

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. This role ensures WFDD delivers timely, original reporting that reflects what is happening in our community right now while maintaining the depth, accuracy, and public service mission of public media journalism.

Working closely with the Content Director, Editorial Director, and Hosts the News Director guides a team of journalists, shapes daily coverage priorities, and strengthens a newsroom editorial workflow that support responsive, high-quality journalism. The role includes leading editorial planning, coaching reporters, and helping the newsroom evolve workflows that allow stories to move efficiently from reporting to broadcast and digital publication.

The morning drive (5am-9am) reaches WFDD''s largest daily audience, and the News Director plays a key role in shaping coverage for the station''s morning broadcast while maintaining a newsroom culture focused on urgency, collaboration, and strong reporting.

This position offers an opportunity for an experienced editor and newsroom leader to guide a talented team of journalists and help build a responsive local journalism operation that serves listeners wherever they encounter WFDD''s reporting.

A cover letter is required and should describe your editorial approach and how you would help a newsroom deliver timely, daily reporting.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

Editorial Leadership

• 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.
• Direct newsroom response to breaking news and major developments.
• Maintain high editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, clarity, and relevance.

Morning News Leadership

• 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.

Reporting and Story Development

• Assign stories, and 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.

Newsroom Systems and Workflow Development

• 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.

Newsroom Management

• 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.

Collaboration and Partnerships

• Coordinate 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.

Audience and Digital Strategy

• 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.

Other Functions:

• Serve as a fill-in host for local newscasts or other news programming as needed.
• Assist with major reporting projects or breaking news coverage when required.
• Participate in 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.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel for reporting assignments.

A successful candidate in this role will:

• Demonstrate strong news judgment and the confidence to rethink familiar public radio workflows when needed to better serve the audience.
• Be motivated by the responsibility of informing the community every day and continually ask how WFDD's journalism can improve.
• Understand how to use the strengths of individual reporters to strengthen the overall capacity and impact of the newsroom.
• Lead with clarity and initiative by setting priorities, thinking ahead, and building a newsroom that is proactive rather than reactive.

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

This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

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.

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

Full time

Note to Applicant:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.