• News Director Job Description

    A news director is someone who is in charge of the news department of a media house. A news director manages the day-to-day activities of the news department and are responsible for the entire news crew, including the news producers, newscast directors, news anchors, editors, reporters, photographers and other technical staff.

    A news director should have experience of news planning, newsgathering, news editing, news production and news presentation to properly manage every single member of the news department and make excellent broadcast decisions. They should be able to relate to a wide range of people and resolve conflicts.

  • What does a News Director do?

    News directors may do some or all of the following:

    • supervise and oversee the activities of the news department
    • ensure that news programs comply with relevant media laws and regulations
    • make broadcast decisions
    • monitor news broadcast equipment usage and maintenance
    • hire and fire news department staff
    • supervise and oversee the training of news department personnel
    • manage the budget of the news department
    • develop marketing strategy for the news department
    • report to the general manager of the station
  • Where does a News Director work?
  • Working Conditions

    News directors usually work normal office hours, but may sometimes work evenings and weekends to supervise news projects. They work in offices and newsrooms, but may travel to attend conferences or seminars.

  • What is Required to Become a News Director?

    To become a news director, you’ll usually be promoted through the ranks to the position. Some media houses may also require a master’s degree in management in addition to the journalism degree you already possess as a requirement of your previous position.

  • Modules
  • Specializations
  • Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

    News directors need to have:

    • patience
    • stamina
    • resilience
    • tactfulness
    • perceptiveness
    • courteousness
    • adaptability
    • integrity and responsibility
    • creativity and innovation
    • good attention to detail
    • good judgment and decision making skills
    • good listening and communication skills
    • time management and organizational skills
    • leadership and networking skills
    • analytical and problem-solving skills
    • financial and budgeting skills
    • interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team
    • the ability to coordinate multiple tasks at one time
    • the ability to handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy
    • the ability to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful situations
    • the ability to train and supervise others
    • the ability to accept and respond well to criticism
    • the ability to relate to a wide variety of people
    • knowledge of media law and ethics
    • knowledge of news planning
    • knowledge of newsgathering
    • knowledge of news editing
    • knowledge of news production
    • knowledge of news presentation

References

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Alternative Careers
  • News Anchor
  • News Reporter
  • News Editor
  • Announcer
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