and the job listing Expires on May 30, 2026
Work for one of Michigan State University’s largest student organizations!
Impact 89FM is seeking a News Director. This is a paid staff position in the organization, working with a paid staff of approximately 80 students and a volunteer staff of approximately 200 students. Applicants must be current undergraduate or graduate students at Michigan State University.
YOU MUST BE AN MSU STUDENT, AND NOT GRADUATING UNTIL AT LEAST DECEMBER OF 2026.
Basic Qualifications
- Must be a student at Michigan State University.
- Must have excellent interpersonal, training and motivational skills.
- Must be self-driven, detail-oriented, and highly organized.
- Must have demonstrated timely communication skills. It is expected that email, chat, text or voice messages are returned within 24 hours during the standard work week.
- Must have demonstrated leadership and personnel management experience.
- Must be able to manage multiple projects at a time and meet deadlines.
- Must be willing to work during non-business hours as needed.
- Must have familiarity with computer systems and data organization as well as technical troubleshooting skills.
- Must be enthusiastic about sharing news journalistic content.
- Must be able to effectively train, coach and mentor staff members.
- Must have a good understanding of AP style and editing for the web, as well as familiarity with tracking changes, editing ethics and digital best practices.
Preferred Qualifications
- Current staff member at Impact 89FM with a history of progressively advanced responsibility.
- Familiarity with Impact 89FM’s strategic planning process, including mission, vision, core values, and long‑term goals.
- An understanding of how to use the Adobe Creative Cloud software suite, including Audition, InDesign, Lightroom, Photoshop and Premiere.
- Expertise with Telos Axia AoIP networked radio consoles.
- Experience with broadcast microphones and related field equipment.
- Experience leading and/or being a part of an editorial team.
- Understanding of Impact 89FM’s editorial voice and considerations for selecting stories and content to share.
- Knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Google Analytics.
- Experience writing web headlines and social media captions.
- Multimedia skills including photography, video, audio, web design, and graphic design.
- Proficiency in audio production software and tools, including Audacity, Hindenburg, Descript and Pro Tools.
- Successful related coursework in journalism and broadcasting.
- Prior professional experience in journalism and broadcasting.
Typical Duties & Responsibilities
- Ensuring all staff members are aware of and in compliance with all Michigan State University and Federal Communications Commission regulations, directives and policies.
- Organizing and facilitating meetings and workshops for the News Team.
- Updating social media accounts for the main Impact 89FM socials as well as Impact News to promote published content.
- Communicating with Visual Media Director and Podcasts Coordinator to produce audio and visual content, including podcasts and videos.
- Leading a group of paid and volunteer staff to plan, write, produce, edit, and publish content as part of the Impact 89FM Editorial Team.
- Being on call as the first point of contact for technical issues pertaining to FM operations during assigned Director on Duty weekends. Responses are expected as soon as possible. First point of contact on weekends is a rotating shared responsibility of E-Board members, the Training Director, the Programming Assistant and Airstaff Coaches.
- Working closely with the Executive Board management staff to identify programming strategies that align with values identified through strategic planning as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
- Implementing editorial decisions made by Executive Board and management staff.
- Supervising development, editing, publication and promotion of news and editorial podcasts, including City Pulse on the Air, Exposure, The Sci‑Files, The State and The Undercurrent.
- Covering local news, press conferences and newsworthy events for broadcast and publication.
- Collaborating with other Department Heads, Editors, and Website Director to develop workflows and standards to ensure proper formatting, revision and oversight of all content posted online.
- Working closely with department paid staff to lead, train and mentor a team of volunteer staff who will produce and develop audio and written content.
- Leading all activities of the News Team as its team leader, which includes directing content assignment, mentoring, delegating tasks, training and providing feedback as needed.
- Communicating with and working closely alongside Impact 89FM’s established media partners, including City Pulse, The State News, WKAR and the Red Cedar Log.
- Working closely with the Audio Production Director to create and maintain current production elements for legal IDs, bumpers, promos, PSAs, show intros/outros/breaks and other needed materials.
- Assisting in the gathering of entries for state and national competitions.
- Participating in established meetings for E-Board, departments, teams, and other initiatives as necessary and appropriate.
- Representing the station and assisting with required events throughout the academic year as a paid staff member.
- Ensuring compliance with all Michigan State University and Federal Communications Commission regulations, directives and policies.
- Ensuring compliance with copyright and trademark law, and documenting permission when third‑party resources are used in published content.
- Leading all activities of News Department as its department head.
- Working closely with the Executive Board and management staff to broadcast and publish content that aligns with values identified through strategic planning as well as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
- Participating in office and on‑air duties as determined by management staff.
- Ensuring timely completion of personal projects, department projects and station‑wide projects using project management system.
- Maintaining all station files and documents in network‑based and cloud‑based storage systems.
- Filling in where and when necessary to accomplish station goals and objectives.
Reports to
- General Manager
Salary & Hours
- Student positions start at $18 an hour. There are opportunities for advancement based upon satisfactory performance review.
- This position requires up to 15 hours a week.
Applications will be accepted through May 29th, 2025.
Applicants can apply for this position exclusively through the Michigan State University Handshake system here .
Required Documents
- Resume
- Portfolio: In your cover letter or in a separate attachment, submit a link to a digital portfolio with writing, editing, audio, photography, video or other examples, specifically with a focus on news and related coverage.
Address your cover letter to Jeremy Whiting, and make sure your resume is relevant and up to date. Cover letters should be role‑specific and properly formatted. If you are applying for multiple positions, please rank them by preference in your cover letter(s). Applicants who fail to meet these standards will not be considered. If you have any questions please direct them to Operations Manager Tyler Atchison .
More information about Impact 89FM | WDBM‑FM is available online at impact89fm.org .
MSU Student Radio is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.
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