Director of Student Media (Publications Leader)

STUDENT MEDIA (BL-STMD-IUBLA)

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.

The Director of Student Media serves as the publisher and executive leader for the IU Student Media umbrella organization, providing leadership and operational direction for both professional and student staff. This position is the chief financial and operational officer with a focus on long‑term sustainability, guided by the Task Force on Editorial Independence and Sustainability. The director also advocates for student reporters, hosts, and producers, protecting their editorial independence and offering a learning laboratory that complements The Media School curriculum.

This position reports to the Executive Director of Integrated Public Media.

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, launching and managing the Student Media Startup/Innovation Fund with metrics tied to audience growth and sustainability.

Creates strategic and operating plans for Student Media, consulting with the Student Media Advisory Board on significant policy changes or strategic adjustments.

Protects the editorial autonomy of Student Media outlets, providing 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 and supports fundraising bodies, including development of an endowed Student Media Center.

Supervises professional staff and mentors student journalists, ensuring student leaders participate in budget planning and operational decision‑making.

Directs and manages budgets for IU Student Media, ensuring financial strategies align with The Media School’s budget operations and support sustainability of the umbrella organization and individual outlets.

Serves as the primary representative of Student Media to the Media School and university leadership, encouraging campus collaborations.

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, defining media production methodologies and standards and guiding high‑priority projects.

Establishes short‑term business plans and long‑term operational objectives, including managing project timelines, deliverables, and resource plans for multi‑project initiatives.

Conducts personnel actions including hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.

Manages high‑level assignments and allocation of media production resources, including negotiation and coordination with other departments or teams.

Makes budgetary recommendations or proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.

Researches and stays up to date on new industry production standards, technology, equipment, and methodology, implementing new protocols to address business needs.

Works collaboratively with other leaders across departments to recommend standards, best practices, and related policies.

Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering, and advisory committees, acting as an advisor and serving on various university committees and task forces related to student media.

Education

Required : Bachelor's degree in English, communications, journalism, or a related field

Preferred : Master's degree in a related field

Work Experience

Required : 4 years in a relevant field

1 year of management experience in a relevant field

Preferred : Experience with transformative change management, innovation, and strategy development within a media‑related field

Preferred : Experience in media production

Preferred : Experience with student media

Skills

Required : Proficient communication skills

Required : Maintains a high degree of professionalism

Required : Demonstrates time‑management and priority‑setting skills

Required : Demonstrates a high commitment to quality

Required : Excellent organizational skills

Required : Excellent collaboration and team‑building skills

Required : Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback

Required : Instills commitment to organizational goals

Required : Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision‑making skills

Required : Effective conflict management skills

Required : Builds and manages effective teams

Preferred : Demonstrated success building partnerships and establishing beneficial internal and external relationships

Preferred : Demonstrated success developing and implementing innovative strategies

Preferred : History of policy and procedure compliance

Preferred : Experience managing budgets and pursuing new revenue sources

Preferred : Demonstrated success working with students or early‑career professionals

Preferred : Knowledge of FCC and intellectual property rights

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Location: Franklin Hall, Indiana University Bloomington Campus

Salary: $89,000 – $99,000 annually

Work Hours: Generally works 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; due to the nature of news publication, flexibility is required to address time‑sensitive issues as they arise.

Benefits for full‑time staff employees include:

Comprehensive medical and dental insurance

Health savings account with generous IU contributions

Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts

Basic group life insurance paid by IU

Voluntary supplemental life, long‑term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance

Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting

Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options

Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses

10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year

Generous paid time off plans

Paid leave for new parents and IU‑sponsored volunteer events

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring.

See Indiana University Notice of Non‑Discrimination for contact information.

#J-18808-Ljbffr