Director of Student Media (Publications Leader)
Department
STUDENT MEDIA (BL-STMD-IUBLA)
Department Information
The Media School at Indiana University is built on a decades-long tradition of journalism, film, media, and communication at one of the nation's premier public universities. Our programs focus on teaching, researching, and creating media from academic, creative, and professional perspectives. The Media School is committed to building and supporting a strong community of students, scholars, and staff.
Indiana University Student Media includes the Indiana Daily Student, Arbutus, WIUX-LP Radio, and Indiana University Student Television, student-run outlets with deep historical roots and a legacy of journalistic independence. Founded in 1867, the Indiana Daily Student is one of the nation's longest-running college newspapers and has served as a launching pad for generations of journalists, including famed correspondent Ernie Pyle and numerous Pulitzer Prize winners. Arbutus, Indiana University's student yearbook, reflects a longstanding tradition of visual storytelling and documentary record-keeping that captures the life and history of the university. Indiana University Student Television (IUSTV), established in 2002, and WIUX, which began broadcasting in 1963 as WQAD, continue that tradition by providing students with hands-on experience in television and radio production.
The Director of Student Media serves as the publisher and executive leader for the IU Student Media umbrella organization. This position provides leadership and operational direction for both professional and student staff, serving as the chief financial and operational officer with a focus on long-term sustainability. The findings and recommendations of the Task Force on Editorial Independence and Sustainability will guide this position's work.
While responsible for the business, financial, and operational health of these brands, the director also acts as an advocate for student reporters, hosts, and producers, operating under a codified commitment to protect their editorial independence. This role provides students with an experiential learning laboratory that complements The Media School curriculum and prepares them for professional careers in the media industry.
This position reports to the Executive Director of Integrated Public Media.
Job Summary
Department-Specific Responsibilities
- Develops and executes a comprehensive, multi-year business and revenue strategy in collaboration with student leadership. Oversees the creation of strategic and operating plans that reflect the unique goals, audiences, and resources of each media brand.
- Pursues and embraces innovation to connect with new audiences and utilize new platforms. Launch and manage the Student Media Startup/Innovation Fund to support student-led experimental media projects, with clear success metrics tied to audience growth and sustainability.
- Creates strategic and operating plans for Student Media and present plans to appropriate bodies for input, review, and guidance. Consults with Student Media Advisory Board on significant policy changes or strategic adjustments.
- Rigorously protects the editorial autonomy of Student Media outlets. Provides guidance on legal compliance, ethics, and operational best practices while ensuring content decisions remain the exclusive responsibility of student creators.
- Works closely with The Media School advancement team to fundraise for Student Media initiatives. Serves on appropriate Student Media bodies, particularly to support fundraising initiatives, including the development of an endowed Student Media Center.
- Supervises professional staff and mentor student journalists. Ensures student leaders actively participate in budget planning and operational decision-making as part of their learning experience.
- Directs and manages budgets for IU Student Media. Ensures financial strategies are transparent, aligned with The Media School's budget operations, and supports the sustainability of the umbrella organization and the individual outlets.
- Serves as the primary representative of Student Media to The Media School and university leadership and encourage collaborations across campus.
- Represents IU Student Media nationally through organizations such as the College Media Association to stay current with industry trends and career pathways.
- Ensures all operations adhere to university, state, and federal policies.
General Responsibilities
- Provides highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define media production methodologies and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority projects/initiatives.
- Establishes short-term business plans and long-term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase initiatives.
- Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.
- Manges high level assignments and allocation of media production resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams; may coordinate large-scale projects with a wide range of audiences in support of academic initiatives
- Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
- Researches and stays up to date on new industry production standards, technology, equipment, and methodology; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.
- Works collaboratively with other leaders across departments in recommending standards, best practices, and related policies/procedures.
- Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; acts as advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to student media.
Qualifications
Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.
EDUCATION
Required
- Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, or related field
Preferred
- Master's degree in related field
WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
- 4 years in relevant field
- 1 year of management experience in relevant field
Preferred
- Experience with transformative change management, innovation and strategy development particularly within a media-related field
- Experience in media production
- Experience with student media
SKILLS
Required
- Proficient communication skills
- Maintains a high degree of professionalism
- Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
- Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
- Excellent organizational skills
- Excellent collaboration and team building skills
- Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback
- Instills commitment to organizational goals
- Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills
- Effective conflict management skills
- Builds and manages effective teams
Preferred
- Demonstrated success building partnerships and establishing beneficial internal and external relationships
- Demonstrated success developing and implementing innovative strategies
- History of policy and procedure compliance
- Experience managing budgets and pursuing new revenue sources
- Demonstrated success working with students or early career professionals
- Knowledge of FCC and intellectual property rights
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