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Media, Publishing, Information Services, Automotive

Assistant News Director

Cincinnati, OHOnsiteFull TimeDirectorPosted 12 days ago

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Required skills

  • newsroom management
  • breaking news
  • big story coverage
  • editorial decisions
  • ethical decisions
  • community-driven storytelling
  • digital platforms
  • linear platforms
  • investigative reporting
  • consumer coverage

Nice to have

  • producing background

Role summary

WLWT, a Hearst Television NBC affiliate in Cincinnati, seeks a dynamic and experienced Assistant News Director to lead daily operations and shape impactful, community-driven storytelling across digital and linear platforms. The role requires strong news judgment, command of breaking news and big story coverage, and the ability to make critical editorial and ethical decisions. The Assistant News Director will work with the News Director on content strategy, lead breaking news and enterprise reporting, guide reporters, and oversee special event coverage, investigative, consumer, and medical reporting. A strategic approach to content, people development, and technology adoption is essential, along with a digital-first mindset and the ability to manage a large staff in a 24/7 news environment. Mentorship and daily feedback are key responsibilities.

WLWT, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate in Cincinnati, is seeking a dynamic, creative, and experienced newsroom leader to be our next Assistant News Director. The ideal candidate must have excellent news judgement and a strong command of breaking news and big story coverage on-air and online. In addition to managing the daily operations of a highly competitive market newsroom, you must have the journalistic know-how needed to make critical editorial and ethical decisions. As Assistant News Director, you will play a key role in shaping impactful, community-driven storytelling that leads the way on digital and linear platforms. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the most respected stations and ownership groups in the nation.

Responsibilities

  • Work with the News Director to ensure daily and long-term content adheres to the WLWT brand and the department’s overall strategy.
  • Be the voice of urgency, leading the charge on breaking news, weather coverage, and enterprise reporting across all platforms.
  • Work with reporters to deliver dynamic and engaging stories and live shots.
  • Play a leading role in planning and executing big event coverage such as elections, debates, major live events, and community-focused efforts.
  • Lead the way to ensure the success of investigative, consumer, and medical coverage.
  • Provide mentorship and daily feedback to team members.

Requirements

  • Five years of newsroom management experience
  • A strategic approach to building content, growing people, and embracing technology
  • Commitment to digital-first mindset
  • Ability to command a large staff in an ever-evolving 24/7 news environment
  • Producing background preferred but not required
  • Bachelor's Degree or related military training in Broadcast Communications, Journalism, or related field.
  • Values in Action
  • At Hearst Television we tell stories every day. Stories about people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. That’s why, behind the scenes, we believe in being an organization that fosters collaboration and open communication, ensuring that the content we create is authentic, accurate, and connected to the communities we serve.

Benefits

  • Hearst's benefit programs are modern, flexible and designed to focus on you. As a Hearst employee, you and your spouse or partner or dependents would have access to the following benefits.
  • Medical | Dental | Vision
  • 401(k) matching
  • Emotional Wellness Support
  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • LGBTQ+ Health Services
  • Additional benefits to meet your and your family's needs
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