Director Of Student Media - Cci Office Of Student Media

Director of Student Media - CCI Office of Student Media

 Full-Time, Exempt, Market Range MR11

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for a Director of Student Media in the College of Communication and Information.

Application Process: Interested individuals should apply by January 15, 2024.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position has been filled. For full consideration, applicants must provide a resume, cover letter, and a minimum of three references. All applicants must apply online to be considered for this position. 

The Position: The Director of Student Media will lead an innovative, editorially independent student journalism and media organization, comprised of a weekly print publication and news website (The Daily Beacon and utdailybeacon.com), a commercial production unit (Lumos Media Services), a television news and production program (The Volunteer Channel), a lifestyle magazine (Ablaze Magazine) and supporting social media channels. The Director of Student Media will advise, oversee, and educate the student staff and volunteers of all the Student Media properties, along with supervising a four-member staff, including professionals in broadcast television news and commercial video production.

The Director of Student Media is expected to:

         Provide oversight and management of the multi-platform student journalism and media organization.

         Oversee day-to-day operations that enhance the ongoing development of the unit in line with the College's strategic plan.

         Work with students and other stakeholders to develop and grow the media properties.

         Work with students and stakeholders to develop new, innovative products for print, television, and digital properties.

         Serve as an executive committee member of the College of Communication & Information's Media Center, supporting collaboration across media organizations and participating in strategic planning initiatives of the CCI Media Center.

         Oversee and manage multiple related budgets including student salary and equipment.

         Maintain financial sustainability through fundraising, development, grant writing, underwriting, and paid-services in collaboration with relevant institutional partners and through outreach to the broader community, ensuring compliance with UT fiscal policy and CCI guidance.

         Make decisions about complex issues related to operational procedures of the unit, always promoting efficiency and sustainability.

         Maintain approval authority for IRIS transactions processed in unit.

         Promote and oversee effective Student Media leadership through active and engaged mentoring and professionally informed advising in all aspects of a student-run journalism organization, including (but not limited to) writing, editing and design, distribution, marketing, underwriting, management, and fulfillment of obligations to institutional and community partners.

         Support the growth and development of Student journalists working on various Student Media platforms.

         Define and maintain student performance expectations through ongoing feedback, coaching, and accountability measures, including oversight of Student leaders' training, scheduling, and management of Student staff and volunteers.

         Oversee and maintain an inclusive, creative, and professional organizational culture that supports and extends classroom instruction and fosters student growth both as career preparation and in service to the campus and community.

         Initiate and maintain collaborative and consultative relationships with faculty in the College of Communication and Information with the aim of increasing classroom-newsroom collaborations.

         Initiate and maintain collaborative and consultative relationships with leaders of other Media Center organizations with the aim of creating innovative, collaborative products.

         Work with staff from the college's Adam Brown Social Media Command Center to develop ways to use social media listening in news coverage by Student Media properties.

         Develop and maintain training materials, programs, and events as well as regional and campus recruitment programs and events.

         Develop initiatives to support development opportunities for students and staff within the unit.

To be successful in this role, candidates are required to possess:

        Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field OR  Eight or more years of related experience can be used in lieu of required education.

         Five years of experience in professional journalism and/or media settings.

         Management and/or leadership experience in a journalism, media or Student Media setting.

         Advanced knowledge of AP Style and other norms of the field of journalism.

         Ability to be a newsroom leader, handle multiple projects simultaneously, meet tight completion deadlines, work independently, and communicate effectively.

         Proficient in the Adobe CC software, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere.

         Ability to manage and supervise the student and professional staff of various Student Media properties.

         Ability to create and effectively manage the budget of Student Media properties.

         Ability to use and teach students to use content management software for the various Student Media outlets.

         Ability to mentor students in all aspects of news gathering and production.

         Knowledge of new technologies and emerging trends in news reporting and distribution.

         Ability to collaborate with other Media Center staff and organizations.

Our ideal candidate has:

         Master's degree in journalism, communications, or related field.

         Eligibility for a faculty appointment.

         Experience working in or leading Student Media organizations.

         Experience making and maintaining a budget.

         Experience in the areas of audio visual, video/television production, filming and editing multimedia content.

         Knowledge of video production norms and standards.

         Ability to mentor students in video storytelling.

         Knowledge of audio editing for videos and for audio-only projects, such as interviews and podcasts.

         Knowledge of print design and layout for sales and marketing collateral, flyers, posters, trade-show materials, multipage brochures, and catalogs.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

The College: CCI is part of a Land Grant Institution embedded in communities to make those communities a better place. Our alumni, students, faculty, and staff strive to positively impact the lives of people in our state through our teaching, scholarship, creative work, and through our engagement and service. CCI as a college is well poised to deliver upon all of those areas to become the most nationally distinctive but locally relevant College of Communication and Information in the country. 

EEO / AA Statement / Non-Discrimination Statement: The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status. 

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process or who may need assistance with their application should contact Human Resources at (865) 974-6642.