SPORTS DIRECTOR -WLBT

About Gray Media:

Gray Media, or Gray, is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, formally known as Gray Television, Inc. The company is the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 77 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second-highest-rated television station, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 43 markets totaling nearly 1.5 million Hispanic TV Households. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Gray's additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WLBT:

WLBT is Mississippi's flagship station and the dominant #1 local TV and digital media in Central Mississippi. We are an NBC affiliate that consistently produces award-winning local news coverage. Jackson, MS, is market #98 with a 24-county DMA. It is Mississippi's largest TV market and state capital, offering great museums, several local universities, and is home to the largest medical facilities in the state, including the prestigious University of Mississippi Medical Center. With our great weather, Mississippi is about the outdoors. An extensive network of walking, running, and cycling trails is available across the metro. And if you love a weekend getaway, Jackson is located within a short drive from beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, New Orleans, Memphis, Birmingham, Nashville, Dallas, and Atlanta.

If you're a sports fan, we have you covered. The Mississippi Braves, the AA team of the Atlanta Braves, call metro Jackson home. We host the PGA with the Sanderson Farms Championship. We have two SWAC schools in our DMA, Jackson State and Alcorn State. If you love SEC sports, we have four schools (Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, and LSU) less than three hours away. And Saints, Pelicans, and Grizzlies fans have an easy drive to NOLA and Memphis.

More info on WLBT - Jackson, MS Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0lccLR6Nic&feature=youtu.be

Job Summary/Description:

WLBT in Jackson, MS, is looking for an experienced storytelling journalist to lead our sports coverage at the state's #1 media outlet. This Sports Director position requires a person with a charismatic presence on camera and much more. We are looking for someone who understands that sports coverage is much less about the games and much more about the people who play them, coach them, and cheer them on from the stands. This person will also be expected to create and execute coverage plans, both long-term and breaking. Those coverage plans would include everything from the Saints to the SEC, to High School and pickleball.

Duties/Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• The Sports Director will produce daily content for sports casts and digital platforms
• Plan daily and long-term coverage
• Lead Breaking Sports coverage
• Create and execute a digital-first strategy for sports coverage
• Write, shoot, and edit stories
• Develop and maintain relationships with local sources

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 2+ years as a Sports Anchor or MMJ in a television newsroom
• Journalism or Communications degree or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Knowledge of Mississippi communities, issues, and coverage opportunities
• Must have a good driving record

If you feel you’re qualified and want to work with a great group of people, go to https://gray.tv/careers#currentopenings, you may type in the job title, station call letters, or click on "apply now", upload your resume, cover letter, and references

(Current employees who are interested in this position can apply through the Gray-TV UltiPro self-service portal)

WLBT-TV/Gray Media is a drug-free company

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Gray Media encourages all new employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus virus before the first workday.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.