Manager of Student Media

Position Summary

Under the general direction of the Dean and a dotted line to the Director of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, the Manager of Student Media is responsible for providing guidance and support to students involved in journalism and media activities at San Diego State University.

This includes both The Daily Aztec and KCR College Radio. The role involves working with students, overseeing content production, and ensuring the media group operates professionally.

Duties include but are not limited to :

Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Development :

• Develop a solid infrastructure and innovative business plan to grow and sustain student media across various platforms (print, radio, TikTok, etc.).
• Collaborate with student leaders and other stakeholders to achieve these goals.

Financial Management and Administration :

• Create and manage general revenue and auxiliary budgets in alignment with university policies.
• Oversee payroll, purchasing, and approve expenditures related to student media.
• Work closely with the student media coordinator to develop budget reports for the director and media advisory board.

Academic Integration and Faculty Relations :

• Integrate student media into the School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) curriculum.
• Foster strong relationships with faculty to support students’ seamless transition from the classroom to media environments.

Student Support and Development :

• Provide administrative support, guidance, and coordination for student media.
• Offer yearlong training and development opportunities for students working in media.
• Encourage a learning community integrating academic and professional media skills, values, ethics, and responsibilities.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement :

• Act as a liaison between the school, university, and student media advisory board.
• Establish partnerships, create career development opportunities, and facilitate internships for media students.
• Build collaborative relationships with other campus areas and stakeholders.

Evaluation and Reporting :

• Evaluate program effectiveness, assess readership views, and report findings to faculty and the media advisory board.
• Provide procedural and ethical advice to students regarding journalism and media matters.

This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits-eligible, at-will position. This position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Standard SDSU work hours are Monday Friday, 8 : 00 a.m. to 4 : 30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.

The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA) is one of the eight San Diego State University instructional units.

The College is comprised of ten diverse departments and schools : the departments of Aerospace Studies, Military Science, and Naval Science;

the schools of Art, Design and Art History, Communication, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Journalism and Media Studies, Music and Dance, Public Affairs, and Theatre, Television and Film as well as ten research centers.

The College is staffed by 49 administrative, clerical, and technical positions in addition to approximately 260 tenured / tenure-track faculty and lecturers serving over 5,000 majors.

The Daily Aztec is San Diego State University’s independent student newspaper, serving a student population of almost 35,000 and a faculty and staff population of more than 4,000.

The Daily Aztec strives to be a resource for all members of the SDSU community, providing the news, entertainment, information, and advice they need to make their experience as Aztecs the best it can be.

The Daily Aztec publishes daily online and is a monthly print publication. It has five regular sections : news, opinion and editorial, mundo azteca, arts and culture, and sports.

KCR College Radio : The Sound of State is an internet-based radio station run by students at San Diego State University.

It provides music, sports, and talk programs to the SDSU community. KCR can be listened to directly via the RadioFX and TuneIn apps.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience in the media industry.
• Experience with budget management, payroll, and administrative functions.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to create and sustain partnerships within the university community.
• Strong mentoring and training skills for student media staff.

Key Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the tenets of journalism, including knowledge of media law, ethics, and AP style.
• Solid grasp of the changes occurring in the media industry with a vision for where student media should go and how to best position it for growth.
• Leadership skills to identify and nurture talented students interested in pursuing media careers.
• Ability to work with stakeholders across campus to build relationships with different units and develop a broader reach for student media.
• Interest in working with local and national media organizations to increase the reach of student media work.
• Ability and availability to travel and attend events or perform duties outside of normal work hours (may include weekends) on and off campus.

Licenses / Certifications Required

California Driver’s license

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University will offer a competitive salary based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

San Diego State University also offers a rich benefits package that includes :

• Extensive Leave benefits : 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year;
• Retirement security through a CalPERS defined benefit pension (with CalPERS and UC Retirement Plan reciprocity) and retiree healthcare benefits;
• An array of health, dental, and vision coverage at no-cost or low-cost to the employee; and
• California State University system fee reduction program (fee waiver) for the employee or their qualified dependent

Anticipated hiring range : $80,000-$98,000 annually

Diversity and Community at SDSU

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.

Through our commitment to equity and inclusion, we encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement.

For more information, click here.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities.

This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.