News Director

The Aspen Public Radio News Director is the leader and chief editor of Aspen Public Radio’s newsroom, overseeing news staff and output of news on all platforms. Coverage areas include local governments, arts & culture, education, climate and the environment, public lands, the resort economy, affordable housing, equity and the wealth gap, immigration, and so much more.

We seek a sharp, curious, hard-working, team-oriented person who is excited by new media ideas and the power of radio, ready to lead the growth of an evolving organization.

See below for more information about Aspen Public Radio's history and current news strategy.

Primary Functions

News Strategy: Sets strategic priorities and goals for the local news operation to serve the public, including topics and beats, distribution platform, and geographic coverage priorities. Ensures all Aspen Public Radio news content is accurate, engaging, ethical, and produced with the highest standards of professional journalism.

Editor: Assigns and edits reporters on a daily basis, overseeing the quality of news content from features and series to spots and breaking news; works with this team of broadcast journalists to develop coverage plans; serves as the final say over what story ideas should be pursued.

Management: Possesses strong leadership skills, including the ability to lead an effective team by teaching, training, and developing the skills of newsroom journalists, as well as executing the vision for the news department. The news director will effectively communicate, be an active listener who can readily adapt to and champion change, with a commitment to cultivate and advance diversity and inclusion, develop and manage collaborative partnerships, set goals, hold team members responsible, and achieve data-driven results.

Community Engagement: Works with station leadership on developing and executing regular, meaningful, and engaging ways to hear from our listeners and others throughout our listening area about issues of concern; demonstrates curiosity about the diverse communities of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys and has a willingness to pursue stories that elevate community voices; leads live broadcasts, coverage of breaking news events, participates in emergency preparedness efforts, and works on the production of community events such as town hall meetings, debates, community forums, listening sessions, etc.