News Director

WEAU, a Gray Media-owned station in Eau Claire, WI, is seeking a dynamic and experienced News Director to lead our award-winning team. The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of newsroom leadership, including the development of effective processes and protocols that drive employee growth, enhance both digital and broadcast content, and support sound editorial decision‑making. Our next News Director will be transformational—increasing digital and social media content, embracing investigative journalism, and celebrating creative storytelling.

• Manage and oversee the News Department.
• Work closely with the news team to produce high-quality, relevant, local digital/broadcast news content that sets the station apart from competitors.
• Prioritize collaboration of the News Department with Marketing and Operations
• Consistently recruit, coach, and develop talent
• Maintain a strong connection with corporate recruiting team while also developing your own local connections with local and regional colleges/universities
• Communicate often and have a passion for providing consistent, constructive feedback
• Strong analytical skills, capable of processing research and ratings data to inform and refine content, coverage, and distribution strategies
• Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover, and distribute content
• Lead a culture that owns enterprise reporting, embodies storytelling and is nimble during breaking news
• Interact daily with all department heads in a mutual effort to achieve station goals, extend our brand, develop long-range plans, and station initiatives
• Be a motivator who creates an inspiring and engaging environment
• This role requires exceptional news judgment, strategic planning skills, and the ability to manage all aspects of content operations, including financial, technical, and human resources
• Perform other duties, as assigned, to drive and fulfill the mission while abiding by the values of this organization

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or related field.
• 2 years of previous experience in newsroom leadership is required.
• 5 years of previous experience in digital and broadcast news content development.

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics, and complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Gray Media prohibits harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.