Position : Sr. Director, Content

Location : Birmingham, AL

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are at the core of our mission to strengthen and empower the communities we serve.

Sr. Director, Content

Alabama Media Group (AMG), the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and numerous national journalism awards in 2023, is one of the country’s most innovative and respected local news organizations. We are seeking to identify the next Sr. Director, Content for our newsroom.

The AMG digital newsroom produces:

• AL.com , the state’s largest news source and one of the top 10 Comscore-ranked local news sites nationwide.

• The social video and photo brands This is Alabama (https://www.alabamamediagroup.com/this-is-alabama/) and People of Alabama (https://www.alabamamediagroup.com/people-of-alabama/) .

• The national social lifestyle brand It’s a Southern Thing (https://www.southernthing.com/) .

• Three digital editions for subscribers in Birmingham, Huntsville, and the Mobile, AL coastal region.

• AL Education Lab, (https://www.alabamamediagroup.com/alabama-education-lab/) which focuses on issues that spotlight successes and failures of the state’s educational system.

• More than two dozen newsletters (news, sports, commentary), and podcasts.

The Sr. Director, Content reports to Hollis R. Towns, Editor-in-Chief and Vice President of Content for Alabama Media Group, and is based in Birmingham, AL. The company embraces a ‘remote-first’ business culture. However, this position is based in the Birmingham area.

AMG maintains offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile and has reporters based in Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, and throughout the state.

Key Responsibilities for the Sr. Director, Content:

Our next newsroom leader will provide energetic editorial and managerial leadership to a talented, high-performing digital news and information operation that delivers breaking news and sports, that engage large local and regional audiences. AL.com’s next Sr. Director, Content will:

• Develop a strong cadence of quick and thoughtful mid-level enterprise that spins off the daily news report or trends emerging from ongoing reporting.

• Use deep knowledge of data to lead a digital-only staff to continue uncovering and reporting the stories that impact Alabama and Alabamians, and stories that resonate across the state and region.

• Ensure that AL.com’s staff continues to value experimentation, bold narratives, and best-in-class technologies to reach and connect with its audiences, utilizing current and emerging storytelling techniques to grow readership

• Lead a nimble and diverse local newsroom team. Manage and coach direct reports responsible for news, sports, statewide content and new initiatives.

• Support an inclusive, can-do culture and spirit that extends AL.com’s reputation as an ‘employer of choice’ in attracting and retaining diverse top journalism talent.

• Interpret and use audience metrics to help inform coverage and approach.

• Assume responsibility for newsroom policies, practices, and performance, overseeing the daily report with robust short-term and long-term planning.

• Help set priorities with the Editor-in-chief for our staff and coverage areas.

• Help develop coverage plans to grow our digital audience.

• Partner with colleagues in the newsroom to define priorities for news coverage and subscriptions.

• Serve as editor when the Editor-in-chief is not present.

• Oversee important content initiatives.

The Sr. Director, Content should have:

• A versatile track record of excellence as a news journalist and team leader who demonstrates readiness for the scope and mission of this role.

• Well-honed editorial instincts and the ability to naturally command internal respect while adding top-level value in guiding major stories and special projects.

• Experience in producing information for digital, visual, and audio platforms.

• A track record in attracting, managing, and developing a diverse team.

• Comfortable at the head of a fast-paced digital newsroom that makes extensive use of digital content tools, content metrics, and social audience strategies.

• Thorough knowledge of First Amendment legal and FOIA issues and how they apply to the policies and practices of an influential statewide news operation.

• Experience living or working in the deep South, if possible.

Additional Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• Minimum of seven years in significant leadership roles in a newsroom with demonstrated success driving content.

• A track record editing stories for quality and impact in an inclusive environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.

• Strong news judgment and experience leading sensitive and complex news content as well as personnel issues.

• A passion for serving and helping others grow and develop.

• You have demonstrated the ability to manage and coordinate news in an environment of accountability effectively.

• This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.

Advance Local Media offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package with affordable options for your healthcare including medical, dental and vision plans, mental health support options, flexible spending accounts, fertility assistance, a competitive 401(k) plan to help plan for your future, generous paid time off, paid parental and caregiver leave and an employee assistance program to support your work/life balance, optional legal assistance, life insurance options, as well as flexible holidays to honor cultural diversity.

Alabama Media Group is one of the country's most innovative local media companies -- and operates AL.com, the AL Education Lab, This is Alabama, People of Alabama and the Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile editions of The Lede.

In addition, the company runs a digital marketing business which serves advertising clients throughout the Southeast, a film production group Advance Originals, and the national brands Reckon and It's a Southern Thing.

In the past 5 years, AL.com journalists have been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes and been a finalist for another, won 21 regional Emmys for documentary work, an Edward R. Murrow award for podcasting and a Webby Award for short-form comedy.

Alabama Media Group is a part of Advance Local Media, one of the largest media groups in the United States, which operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching 52+ million people monthly with our quality, real-time journalism and community engagement. Our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-first, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Forward-looking. For more information about Advance Local, please visit www.advancelocal.com .

Advance Local Media is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, and is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Advance Local does not provide sponsorship for work visas or employment authorization in the United States. Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. will be considered for this position.