Director of Content and Innovation (News Director)

Director of Content & Innovation

Position Summary

The Director of Content & Innovation (previously known as News Director) serves as the station's chief content leader, responsible for creating and executing a multiplatform content strategy that grows audiences across broadcast, streaming, digital, social, and emerging platforms. This leader will drive a “Content First” culture, ensuring the team creates compelling local journalism that is impactful, audience-focused, and platform appropriate.

This role requires a visionary leader who embraces innovation, believes in modernizing workflows, and inspires teams to create more local original and differentiated content while maintaining the highest journalistic standards.

You’ll be living and working in one of the most beautiful places in the country.  People pay thousands of dollars a week to vacation here in Panama City, Florida.  The people who live here are friendly and welcoming. If you get involved in the community, they will embrace you as one of their own.  You’ll be working with a young, energetic staff of journalists, most fresh out of college and working in their first content center. There are also seasoned veterans on the staff who make up the core leadership.

SCAM ALERT:

Please be aware candidates may be at risk of being targeted by scammers seeking personal data or money. Recruiters with Nexstar Media Group and its local stations will only contact you through official job boards, LinkedIn, or email with Nexstar.tv domain or official station email addresses (example:@wreg.com).  Be cautious of any outreach claiming to be from Nexstar or its recruiters via any other messaging platforms or personal email addresses. We will not contact you using a @gmail email address. If you are unsure about the authenticity of a job inquiry or offer, email us at [email protected] .

EEO Statement:
Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled

Key Responsibilities

- Lead all aspects of the Content Department across newsroom operations, digital content, streaming/CTV, social media, weather, sports, and content production.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive multiplatform content strategy focused on total audience growth, engagement, and community impact.
- Build a “Content First” culture that prioritizes storytelling, audience needs, and platform optimization over traditional show-based production.
- Establish and manage rolling editorial workflows that allow content to move seamlessly across broadcast, streaming, digital, social, and emerging platforms.
- Drive growth of live streaming, CTV programming, digital video, vertical video, and other audience-focused content initiatives.
- Lead recruitment, coaching, training, and performance management for all content staff to prepare current and future content creators and newsroom leaders to excel in our modernized, “Content First” newsroom.

- Use audience insights, analytics, and performance data to inform content decisions and improve results across all platforms.
- Encourage experimentation, innovation, and the development of new content formats that differentiate the station in the market.
- Partner with station leadership to identify opportunities for growth, operational efficiency, and long-term total audience development.
- Ensure content consistently reflects journalistic excellence, community impact, creativity, and audience value.
- Oversee content budgets, resource allocation, and strategic investments in technology, training, and workflow.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Media Studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum five years newsroom experience, including at least two years in content leadership, news leadership, or data-driven decision making.
- Demonstrated success leading content teams across multiple platforms, including digital, social, streaming, and broadcast.
- Strong understanding of total audience development, content strategy, streaming, CTV, social video, and digital publishing.
- Experience building high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
- Proven ability to lead organizational change and implement new workflows, technologies, and content strategies.
- Strong editorial judgment and a commitment to journalistic excellence.
- Experience using analytics and audience data to guide content decisions and measure success.
- Ability to establish long-term goals, develop strategic plans, and execute performance objectives.
- Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Experience with newsroom, digital publishing, streaming, and content production technologies preferred.
- Passion for innovation, community storytelling, and the future of local journalism.

Success in This Role

The ideal candidate understands that great journalism is no longer created for a single platform. The Director of Content and Innovation is a builder, a coach, an innovator, and a content strategist who can inspire teams to create compelling local content that connects with audiences across every screen and platform while preparing the station for the future of local media.