USA TODAY VP of News Job at Gannett in Washington

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly‑owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high‑quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium‑sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com.

USA TODAY’s newsroom stands apart as the nation’s unbiased source for facts‑forward news and information. Our mission is to serve readers and viewers across America by delivering essential, independent journalism and content that informs, empowers, and connects.

USA TODAY VP of News

As USA TODAY embraces innovation in an ever‑evolving media landscape, the brand is seeking a top leader to drive the USA TODAY newsroom forward, combining business acumen and digital expertise with incredible storytelling and service journalism. The Vice President of News for USA TODAY is undoubtedly a highly visible and respected role in American journalism with extraordinary responsibility in service to our nation.

In addition to ensuring USA TODAY delivers high‑impact, independent journalism to meet audiences on all platforms as well as managing newsroom operations, this leader is expected to provide clear vision and strategic direction for USA TODAY’s journalists across the country.

The Vice President of News serves as the principal public representative of the newsroom, adeptly embodying USA TODAY’s values and journalistic mission—whether engaging audiences at industry events, appearing on broadcast media, or inspiring teams within the organization during pivotal moments.

The evolution of the industry requires a seasoned leader who will work with partners across USA TODAY Co. to champion positive change that will drive a sustainable future. This leader must be a changemaker willing to build new initiatives from the ground up – someone with a service mindset, driven by urgency, who understands how to run a newsroom and a media business with a mission that’s more important than ever.

This leader will be able to unite siloed teams, inspire hierarchical legacy mindsets to embrace the progress of a modern news organization. The role demands a leader who recognizes the critical tasks of stakeholder management, data‑based decision‑making, managing up and sideways while delivering results.

Reporting to USA TODAY’s Senior Vice President, the person in this role is a transformational News‑focused leader and partner who can seamlessly strategize and motivate – this individual seizes all possibilities with care and conviction.

Responsibilities

Editorial Leadership

• Oversee news content and ensure coverage is unbiased, transparent, and fair – in keeping with the USA TODAY NETWORK Principles of Ethical Conduct for Newsrooms.
• Champion accountability journalism and uphold the organization’s commitment to public service.

Strategy & Innovation

• Position USA TODAY as the single strongest source of facts‑forward news and unbiased information serving the largest audience in America.
• Develop and implement strategies to deepen audience engagement and extend the organization’s reach.
• Champion new storytelling formats and technologies.
• Lead digital transformation and innovation initiatives, including adoption of new storytelling formats, while embracing data‑driven journalism, and emerging technologies (AI).
• Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, encouraging the piloting of new products and platforms.

Team Management and Leadership Competencies

• Lead, coach, and develop newsroom leaders and staff. Foster a culture of belonging, candor, and journalistic excellence.
• Demonstrate participative leadership, fostering collaboration, and innovation.
• Model ethical decision‑making, resilience, and adaptability in a rapidly changing media environment.
• Build and sustain a strong organizational culture that values transparency, accountability, and journalistic excellence.
• Emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal skills to effectively work cross‑functionally across all divisions to implement projects and accomplish goals.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including executives, media, and external partners.

Quality & Standards

• Uphold rigorous standards for accuracy, fairness, and ethics.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Implement best practices for editorial review and risk management.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with product, technology, audience, and business teams to align newsroom priorities with organizational goals.

External Relations

• Serve as a public ambassador for the organization. Build relationships with key stakeholders, including industry peers, partners, and the broader community.
• Champion coverage and initiatives that reach and serve communities and individuals unserved by other national outlets, ensuring USA TODAY’s journalism is essential and accessible nationwide.

Budget & Resource Management

• Oversee newsroom budgets, resource allocation, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five years in significant leadership role in a newsroom or major news organization with demonstrated success.
• Clear understanding of the First Amendment and the highest regard for upholding those standards.
• Experience in managing large, diverse teams and complex operations, and high‑level decision‑making with complex, impactful or sensitive news content.
• Strong strategic thinking, action‑bias, decision‑making, and communication skills.
• Experience working in industries undergoing substantial change and transformation.
• A history of successful leadership, innovation and goal achievement.
• Demonstrated change leader who collaborates and communicates effectively.
• Personal charisma, comfortable with public speaking and a commitment to staff interaction.
• Understanding of the changing media landscape and ability to adapt strategies that address continually changing market and consumer needs and desires.
• Demonstrated strong competitive instincts and intellectual curiosity.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and coordinate in an environment of accountability.
• Demonstrated track record in recruiting a highly successful leadership team highly desirable.
• Experience driving a successful turnaround or transformation highly desirable.
• Commitment to journalistic independence, ethics, and innovation.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

• Your resume – one to two pages.
• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@usatodayco.com.