Director, Shows (AJC)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is one of the most storied brands in journalism, with a legacy that stretches back over a century. Our mission is to be The Soul and Substance of the South and we have a vision to transform this great institution into a modern media company.
That's where you come in.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking an experienced Director, Shows to lead the development, production, and optimization of our growing slate of live and non-live show franchises across video and audio. This leader will oversee all aspects of show strategy, production workflows, audience development, and cross-departmental collaboration, serving as the primary owner of AJC's show ecosystem.
This role sits within the Content Development & Production team and works closely with video, audio, graphics, social, and production operations to build innovative, high-quality programming that reflects AJC's editorial standards and mission.
We are seeking a leader who is:

• News-first, with strong editorial judgment and an understanding of journalistic standards
• Digitally minded, fluent in platform-native storytelling across YouTube, live streaming, podcasts, and social video.
• An experienced showrunner, with a proven record producing both live and non-live digital shows and digital video
• Operationally strong, able to build and refine systems, workflows, and repeatable processes.
• Innovative and creative, bringing forward new concepts, formats, and audience-growth ideas.
• Highly organized, capable of managing complex productions, deadlines, and multiple stakeholders.
• People-focused, with experience managing and developing talent.
• A collaborative communicator, comfortable working across a large, multidisciplinary organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Showrunning & Production Leadership
  
  • Oversee AJC's portfolio of shows, including DawgNation, current and upcoming podcasts including the Flagship, the launch of an AJC Varsity show, and additional programs.
  • Lead all phases of production-concepting, scripting, booking, pre-production, execution, and post-production.
  • Serve as editorial liaison between shows, the newsroom, and AJC Experiences, when live events are built around talent and shows.
  • Serve as editorial liaison between podcast shows, Goat Rodeo and the AJC
  • Maintain editorial, legal, and production standards across formats and platforms.
  • Manage digital executions of shows and/or franchises/series across platforms.
• Strategy, Planning & Development
  
  • Own full-funnel launch plans for new shows, including concept development, positioning, piloting, rollout, and long-term audience strategy.
  • Develop new show formats and extensions informed by audience insights and platform best practices
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to maximize reach and engagement.
• Operational Systems & Workflow Improvement
  
  • Conduct a comprehensive review of current show workflows and systems to find efficiencies
  • Establish standardized documentation, templates, and communication systems, as needed.
  • Support XF alignment across all productions with Head of Content Ops
• Sponsorship, Revenue & Partnerships
  
  • Collaborate with advertising and revenue teams to identify sponsorship opportunities.
  • Support creation of pitch materials and integrated storytelling opportunities.
  • Build programming with long-term monetization potential.
• Editorial Standards & Writing
  
  • Uphold AJC's journalistic values of accuracy, fairness, and trustworthiness
  • Ensure programming and writing complies with legal and newsroom standards.
• Leadership & People Management
  
  • Manage both directs and non-directs in the production of content
  • Set expectations, provide coaching, and foster team culture
  • Book talent and oversee/manage booking resources
• Budget & Resource Management
  
  • Create and manage production budgets, as needed
  • Oversee vendor and talent relationships, as needed
  • Ensure productions meet timelines and financial parameters

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 10 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 8 years' experience; a Ph.D. and 5 years' experience in a related field; or 14 years' experience in a related field.
• 5+ years' experience in a management or leadership role
• Demonstrated showrunner or Executive Producer experience.
• Strong editorial writing and news judgment.
• Experience managing teams.
• Deep understanding of digital audiences and distribution.
• Ability to manage production systems and workflows.
• Highly organized and deadline-driven.
• Experience with YouTube strategy, podcast development, or serialized formats.
• Newsroom experience.
• Familiarity with sponsorship and revenue-driven strategy.
• Comfort with analytics and optimization.
• Strong creative vision and franchise development experience.

USD 134,900.00 - 224,900.00 per year
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary of $134,900.00 - $224,900.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future.