Director of News and Public Affairs

Creative Services Manager 4

Job Family: Creative Services

Time Type: Full time

Arizona PBS is seeking an experienced, strategic, and innovative Director of News and Public Affairs to lead its newsroom and public affairs content efforts across broadcast, digital, and emerging platforms. This role is responsible for shaping editorial strategy, overseeing daily newsroom operations, and ensuring high-quality journalism that reflects Arizona PBS' public media mission of informing, educating, and engaging communities across the state.

The Director of News and Public Affairs will work closely with the Senior Director of Content to define and execute a strong editorial vision while leading a team of reporters, producers, editors, hosts, and student interns. This individual must be an exceptional journalist, collaborative leader, and forward-thinking media professional who can guide teams through an evolving media landscape while maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity. Current initiatives under this role include "Arizona Horizon," a daily public affairs program, the weekly Hispanic community-focused program "Horizonte," as well as Arizona-focused political and election programming.

Key priorities include growing digital news audiences, working with the Senior Director of Content to develop platform-specific content strategies, as well as collaboration and innovation across broadcast and digital platforms.

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven newsroom leader who understands the evolving role of public media journalism. They bring strong editorial judgment, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to produce meaningful journalism that informs civic dialogue across Arizona while expanding Arizona PBS' impact across platforms.

Position Salary Range: $80,000 - $110,000 per year; DOE

Essential Duties:

Editorial Leadership & Strategy

• Partner with the Senior Director of Content to define, implement, and maintain a strong editorial vision aligned with Arizona PBS' mission and strategic priorities.
• Plan, direct, and evaluate department activities and operations to ensure achievement of organizational goals and objectives.
• Oversee content creation and curation to ensure stories are impactful, audience-focused, and aligned with public media values.
• Lead development of new public affairs programs, specials, and initiatives across broadcast and digital platforms.
• Identify opportunities to expand Arizona PBS' reach through emerging technologies, digital storytelling, and multimedia content strategies.
• Develop long-term editorial strategies that strengthen community engagement, audience growth, and public service journalism.

Newsroom Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the newsroom.
• Direct daily news coverage and lead planning for major news events, elections, breaking news coverage, and special programming.
• Determine staffing, equipment, materials, and facility needs required for successful production execution.
• Create and manage production schedules to ensure timely delivery of content.
• Resolve operational challenges and implement improvements to increase departmental efficiency and effectiveness.

Team Leadership & Development

• Inspire, mentor, and supervise reporters, producers, editors, hosts, and student interns.
• Set clear performance expectations and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, creativity, and journalistic excellence.
• Provide coaching and professional development opportunities for emerging journalists and staff.
• Build a newsroom culture that values innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning.

Production & Editorial Oversight

• Conduct research and interviews for major programs and special projects.
• Write and review scripts for public affairs programming and special productions.
• Ensure all content meets Arizona PBS standards for journalistic ethics, accuracy, fairness, and quality.
• Coordinate talent and guest appearances and secure necessary contracts, releases, and copyright clearances.
• Consult with station leadership and legal counsel regarding legal, editorial, and compliance matters.

Budgeting & Administration

• Monitor departmental budgets, expenditures, and resource allocation.
• Prepare reports and maintain records related to production activities and departmental performance.
• Develop operational plans and strategies to support departmental and organizational initiatives.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Collaborate with fundraising, audience development, programming, marketing, and community engagement teams to support station-wide strategic priorities.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience leading a newsroom or managing a team of reporters.
• Strong leadership and supervisory experience, including hiring, coaching, and developing team members.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Demonstrated expertise in electronic news gathering, writing, editing, and producing content for both broadcast and digital platforms.
• Strong commitment to journalistic ethics, editorial independence, and accuracy.
• Deep understanding of digital content distribution, automation systems, and content management platforms.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills with audiences and community stakeholders.
• Experience mentoring emerging journalists and working with interns or early-career professionals.
• Familiarity with public media journalism standards and practices.
• Strong knowledge of Arizona and Southwest regional issues, communities, and public policy topics.

Working Environment:

• Activities are primarily performed in an environmentally controlled office setting, subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse; required to stand for varying lengths of time.
• Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds are required at times.
• Regular activities require the ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to the resolution of conflicts.
• Ability to effectively communicate to perform essential functions.

Department Statement:

Arizona PBS specializes in the education of children, in-depth news and public affairs, lifelong learning, and the celebration of arts and culture — utilizing the power of noncommercial television, the Internet, educational outreach services, and community-based initiatives. Arizona PBS began broadcasting from the campus of Arizona State University on January 30, 1961. Now more than 80 percent of Arizonans receive the signal through a network of translators, cable, and satellite systems. With more than 1 million viewers each week, Arizona PBS consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. Arizonans provide more than 60 percent of the station's annual budget.

Driving Requirement:

Driving is not required for this position.

Location:

Campus: Downtown Phoenix

Funding:

No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:

Current employees, student workers seeking staff opportunities, and students applying for student worker positions must apply directly through the Workday Jobs Hub.

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:

• Cover letter
• Resume or CV

Multiple documents may be uploaded in the attachments section. Alternatively, applicants may combine all required materials into a single PDF for submission. Please ensure uploaded documents are clearly labeled and include your name.

Please ensure your resume includes all employment information in month and year format, for example 6/04 to 8/14, along with job title, job duties, and employer name for each position. Your resume should clearly demonstrate how your experience and background meet the minimum and desired qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications or missing required materials may not be considered.

Important: Do not withdraw your application to make edits. Once an application is withdrawn, it cannot be edited, reactivated, or replaced with a new submission. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact The Office of Human Resources Talent Acquisition before the posting close date.

Graduate Assistant, Intern and part-time positions are counted as half time for experience equivalency, meaning one year equals six months of experience.

Only electronic applications will be accepted for this position. By submitting an application, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000