How to hire an assistant news director

How to hire an assistant news director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant news director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant news director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant news director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your assistant news director job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an assistant news director for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An assistant news director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assistant news directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents assistant news director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Assistant News Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant News Director	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$15-42
   Program Supervisor	A program supervisor is a professional who coordinates and monitors the scheduling and technical performance of company programs. Program supervisors aid in negotiating contracts and are responsible for any contractual changes... Show more	$17-25
   Director Of After School Program	A director of after school programs oversees and directs childcare centers in communities. They take the lead in setting goals and guidelines, conducting research and analyses to identify the students' interests and needs, developing programs that provide recreational activities and academic support, supervising the recruitment and training of employees, and monitoring the daily operations to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently... Show more	$14-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Editorial Content
   • News Content
   • Facebook
   • Story Development
   • Executive Producers
   • Performance Evaluations
   • Severe Weather
   • Community Events
   • ABC
   • Social Platforms
   • News Product
   • FCC
   • Direct Reports
   • Assignment Desk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage talent, personalities and deadlines from numerous departments within ABC and KOAT to produce cohesive, error-free broadcast.
   • Respond to media inquiries and requests; coordinate with PIO's, videographers and photographers.
   • Develop story ideas and build strong relationships with producers and creative teams of CNN and CNNI programs.
   • Upload packages on YouTube and mountaincreek.com
   • Coordinate technical information with sites participating in the broadcast and video conferences.
   • Upload packages on YouTube and mountaincreek.com

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant news director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant news director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, assistant news directors' average salary in nebraska is 59% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant news directors earn 64% less than senior-level assistant news directors.
   • Certifications. An assistant news director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant news director's salary.

   Average assistant news director salary

   $54,222yearly

   $26.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant news director salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing an assistant news director job description

   An assistant news director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an assistant news director job description:

   Assistant news director job description example

   KAGS in College Station, a TEGNA Media Company, is looking for the most creative, innovative and experienced Assistant News Director to lead day-to-day editorial coverage while overseeing content creation and distribution along multiple platforms. If you want to lead by example, inspiration and results, this position is for YOU!
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Write, produce urgent, bold and innovative news content across tv, digital and social media
   * Coordinate and oversee all daily newsgathering efforts by reporters, anchors and news producers
   * Strategically lead, inspire and manage the News Department and daily operations
   * Work in close collaboration with KCEN-TV to share, prioritize, optimize and distribute daily news and information
   * Recruit, hire and retain newsroom staff, including talent
   * Collaborate with all news staff to produce high-quality, relevant, urgent local content that sets the station apart from competition
   * Prioritize all tv, digital and social media content on a daily basis to engage with viewers
   * Coach, and inspire on-air talent, news producers to foster a "one newsroom" approach to content and distribution
   * Teach staff to develop content through social listening and independent sources
   * Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover, and distribute content
   * Participates in daily post-mortem meetings, which involve critiquing that day's shows and growing/developing talent
   * Lead with a competitive spirit in order to win the news of the day
   * Perform any additional duties, as assigned, to drive and fulfill the mission while abiding by the values of the organization.
   
   Job Requirements:
   
   Requirements:
   
   * Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism preferred with a proven track record of successful innovative leadership, communication, and both staff and product development skills.
   * Be a proven winner in breaking news content on all platforms
   * Prior experience as a newsroom manager, content manager, producer, or anchor required.
   * Solid journalistic judgment and a news philosophy that emphasizes accurate, fair and unique local content, along with community engagement.
   * Experience with and understanding of digital metrics tools to make data-driven decisions
   * Strong ethical standards and integrity are a must.
   * Skills in producing engaging, content-driven newscasts and digital content.
   * Strong social media skills, including an active news presence on Twitter and Facebook.
   * Travel: Rarely: less than 10%
   * Work Environment Set: Office: normally performed in a typical interior/office environment
   * Physical Demands Set: Light work: Involves sitting most of the time, walking, lifting, bending, standing, etc.
   
   Travel: Rarely: less than 10%
   
   Work Environment Set: Office: normally performed in a typical interior/office environment
   
   Physical Demands Set: Sedentary work: Involves sitting most of the time; walking, lifting, bending, standing, etc.
   
   About TEGNA
   
   TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA's OTT advertising service. For more information, visit
   
   URL blocked - click to apply
   
   .
   
   TEGNA requires all employees to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC) against the coronavirus.
   
   EEO statement:
   
   TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are a drug free, EEO employer committed to a diverse workforce. We encourage and consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, family responsibilities, disability, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, veteran status or genetic information. TEGNA complies with all applicable laws related to accommodations.
   
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5. Post your job

   To find the right assistant news director for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with assistant news directors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit assistant news directors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant news director job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant news director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assistant news directors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant news director

   Once you've selected the best assistant news director candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assistant news director. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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