ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR - WAFB

Posted 2 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Baton Rouge, LA, USA
In-Office
Expert/Leader
Digital Media • News + Entertainment
The Role
Leads daily newsroom operations and multi-platform content strategy across broadcast, digital, streaming, and emerging channels. Directs coverage of breaking news, weather, investigations, and sports while maximizing story distribution and audience reach. Mentors, teaches, and develops journalists; oversees newscast production, editorial decisions, collaboration, innovation, and execution of the station’s newsroom vision under tight deadlines.
Summary Generated by Built In

About Gray Media:

Today, we are a growing multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest-rated television station in average all-day ratings across 116 of such markets that were measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 46 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WAFB:

WAFB, located in Baton Rouge, is known for its long history of award-winning news, weather and sports coverage and its deep commitment to serving South Louisiana.

Job Summary/Description:  

WAFB is seeking an innovative and driven Assistant News Director to lead our daily newsroom operations, drive our multi-platform content strategy, and mentor a winning team of journalists.

WAFB is seeking an innovative, audience-first Assistant News Director to help lead a dominant newsroom focused on being first and winning big in breaking news, weather, investigative, and sports. In this role, you will direct content distribution across linear, digital, streaming, and emerging platforms simultaneously, ensuring every story is maximized to meet our viewers wherever they are. This senior leadership position is designed for a dynamic leader who can mentor, teach, and elevate our entire newsroom team. As we make bold, structural changes to define the next phase of multi-platform journalism, you will use your passion for innovation and leadership to execute our vision.

Please note: primary job duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the information listed above 

Qualifications/Requirements:

* A bachelor's degree is required, preferably in Journalism, Mass Communications, or a related field.
* Significant prior newsroom experience is a must, with a proven track record of outstanding newscast production and editorial decision-making.
* Demonstrated leadership and mentorship skills, with the ability to teach, guide, and develop a diverse newsroom team.
* Strong multi-platform expertise, including a deep understanding of digital, social, streaming, and emerging platforms alongside traditional broadcast.
* Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills with a passion for innovation and executing a shared vision under tight deadlines.

If you feel you’re qualified and want to work with a great group of people, go to https://gray.tv/careers#currentopenings, you may type in the job title, station call letters, or click on "apply now", upload your resume, cover letter, and references.

(Current employees who are interested in this position can apply through the Gray-TV UltiPro self-service portal)

WAFB-TV/Gray Media, Inc. is a drug-free company.

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.


Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Journalism, Mass Communications, or a related field
  • Significant prior newsroom experience
  • Proven track record of outstanding newscast production and editorial decision-making
  • Leadership and mentorship skills, including the ability to teach, guide, and develop a diverse newsroom team
  • Strong multi-platform expertise across digital, social, streaming, emerging platforms, and traditional broadcast
  • Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills
  • Passion for innovation and executing a shared vision under tight deadlines

Gray Media Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Gray Media and has not been reviewed or approved by Gray Media.

  • Affordable Benefits A no‑premium employee‑only medical option and heavily subsidized alternatives reduce premium costs, with added features like virtual care, infertility/adoption support, and travel reimbursement. Company‑paid life and disability insurance further bolster overall value.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth PTO, paid parental leave, and company holidays are presented as standard elements of the package. These are complemented by wellbeing resources such as a 24/7 EAP and substance‑reduction programs.
  • Retirement Support A 401(k) Savings Plan is offered, with company materials and listings referencing employer contributions or matching. This provides structured retirement planning within the broader rewards mix.

Gray Media Insights

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The Company
HQ: Tulsa, OK
2,154 Employees
Year Founded: 1897

What We Do

Gray Media, or Gray, is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, formally known as Gray Television, Inc. The company is the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 77 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 43 markets totaling nearly 1.5 million Hispanic TV Households. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Gray’s additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. Gray owns a majority interest in Swirl Films. For more information, please visit www.graymedia.com.

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