Gannett is hiring: Associate News Director, The Arizona Republic in Phoenix

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE : GCI) is a diversified media company with national and local reach dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth‑focused media and digital marketing solutions company.

Associate News Director, The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com, Arizona’s largest news organization and part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks a strategic, digitally fluent journalist to lead our news team in a highly competitive market for urgent, informative, and exclusive news. The Associate News Director will drive digital‑first news gathering, champion multimedia storytelling, and ensure our journalism reflects and serves Arizona’s diverse communities.

Responsibilities

Lead a Digital‑First Newsroom : Direct breaking news and criminal justice coverage with a focus on speed, accuracy, and digital impact. Assign and edit coverage for all platforms, prioritizing mobile, web, and social distribution.

Champion Video Storytelling : Collaborate with visual editors, reporters, and producers to create compelling video content for social platforms (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube) and azcentral.com.

Urgent Sourcing Across Channels : Develop and execute strategies for real‑time sourcing and verification using social media, public agencies, and community sources. Monitor social platforms for breaking news, trending topics, and user‑generated content; verify and incorporate multimedia from public and official sources.

Audience Engagement : Use analytics and audience insights to shape coverage, drive subscriptions, and deepen engagement. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and inclusivity.

Mentorship and Collaboration : Mentor reporters in digital news gathering, compelling narratives, and diverse sources. Collaborate across the newsroom and USA TODAY Network to enhance story forms and audience reach.

Knowledge and Skills

Expertise in digital‑first news gathering, video production, and social media sourcing.

Expertise with public records, data reporting, and data visualization.

Strong news judgment, editing skills, and command of journalism ethics.

Proficiency with analytics, audience funnel strategies, and digital content optimization.

Ability to verify and curate user‑generated content and multimedia from social platforms.

Spanish language skills a plus.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism, media production, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Five or more years of newsroom editing experience, with a track record in digital and public‑safety journalism.

Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a fast‑paced, multi‑platform environment.

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.

1. Your resume – one to two pages.

2. 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.

Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. In addition, Gannett 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 individual’s application for employment with Gannett Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact Gannett Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@gannett.com.

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