Job Details

News Director-WUOT FM-UTK
Knoxville, TN, United States

Job Identification: 3020
Job Category: Communication & Mktg
Posting Date: 05/16/2025
Job Schedule: Full Time
Locations: 1345 Circle Park, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (On-site)

Job Description
WUOT FM, the public radio station licensed to the University of Tennessee and located in Knoxville, seeks a news director who is excited about the prospect of reimagining what a public radio news team can accomplish and who is ready to lead collaborative projects with the College of Communication and Information's (CCI) Media Center properties producing professional-quality work across platforms.

WUOT's News Director plays the leading role in shaping the editorial vision and strategy of the newsroom. This involves making critical judgments about which stories to cover. The News Director's editorial discretion also involves safeguarding journalistic integrity and ensuring that our coverage remains uninfluenced by the agendas of funders or the licensee. Additionally, strategic planning is essential, balancing comprehensive coverage of major events like elections while remaining agile enough to respond swiftly to breaking news.

This position must have deep knowledge of and commitment to the tenets and ethics of journalism and the role of journalism in society; know how to create innovative content on all platforms; have an understanding and commitment to community engagement.


Responsibilities

• Shape and execute WUOT's editorial vision, strategy, policies, and priorities.
• Develop strategies for implementing journalism that reaches diverse audiences and integrate new and historically underrepresented viewpoints.
• Collaborate with the leadership team regarding WUOT's online and digital strategy.
• Seek out and lead news collaboration efforts with other stations, student media organizations, and other non-profit organizations.
• Direct and lead overall efforts of the News Department and ensure that content is consistent with the station's mission, goals, and journalistic standards.
• Be responsible and accountable for the overall quality and performance of the station's news content.
• Direct daily news coverage and lead planning for major news events including elections, legislative sessions, or breaking stories.
• Supervise the newsroom, including editors, reporters, and producers.
• Assign projects or stories and ensure that deadlines are met.
• Develop Newsroom staff by coaching, training, and providing growth opportunities.
• Recruit and manage student interns.
• Critique and edit content to enhance stories, assuring reporters/editors include multiple perspectives while maintaining accuracy, objectivity, and adherence to WUOT's journalistic standards.
• Understand and incorporate deep knowledge of the area's community neighborhoods, issues, and other special characteristics to direct coverage and story selection.
• Participate in on-air fundraising and community events as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in news/journalism. A bachelor's or master's in journalism, communications, or a related field may be considered in place of minimum experiential requirement.
• Ability to be passionate, resilient, goal-focused, and to think critically.
• Ability to build relationships, effectively communicate, build rapport, and relate well to a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, and proven ability to collaborate with internal and external contacts and to consistently work well with a wide range of skilled and creative people.
• Ability to creatively solve problems and be a self-starter with sound judgment.
• Ability to complete multiple tasks by assigned deadlines.
• Ability to learn new systems and procedures quickly.
• Ability to be a strong team player committed to working with department and station colleagues to achieve collective goals.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field.
• Passion for and experience with public broadcasting.
• Knowledge of Knoxville and East Tennessee - the people, music, cultures, issues, and geography.
• Knowledge of FCC guidelines and requirements.

Work Location: On site in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Compensation and Benefits: The anticipated starting salary for this position is $70,000 to $75,000 depending on the selected candidate's experience, qualifications, and suitability.

Application Process: The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2025. For full consideration, applicants must provide a resume and cover letter. Finalists will be required to provide 3 professional references. All applicants must apply online to be considered for this position.

The College:

CCI is part of a Land Grant Institution embedded in communities to make those communities a better place. Our alumni, students, faculty, and staff strive to positively impact the lives of people in our state through our teaching, scholarship, creative work, and through our engagement and service. CCI as a college is well poised to deliver upon all of those areas to become the most nationally distinctive but locally relevant College of Communication and Information in the country.

About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!


To apply, visit https://fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/3020/?mode=location







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