Story Desk Manager

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

WBIR, the TEGNA‑owned NBC in Knoxville, is transforming the way we gather and present news, and we’re looking for a Story Desk Manager to embrace a leadership role in this transition to the newsroom of the future.

The successful candidate will guide our team of content creators in story discovery and presentation across all platforms. They will manage the story development process throughout the day, having experience with the best practices of running an assignment desk and training others to excel at developing local contacts and responding to breaking news. They’ll be part of a leadership team that oversees the station’s coverage of breaking news, developing stories, and enterprise reporting for streaming, online, app, social media, and linear television platforms, while maintaining a focus on stories that matter to our community.

The ideal candidate is an experienced journalist with a knack for building a team of people who work smarter, not harder, and are as adept at seeking information as they are at presenting those stories in modern and creative ways. The aptitude to identify and pursue stories that are urgent, impactful, and newsworthy is important. The ability to respond urgently to breaking news, calmly manage chaos, pivot quickly, solve problems creatively, train a motivated team, and guide a multi‑platform newsroom’s content are all desirable for this leader.

As the Story Desk Manager, you will lead the Story Management Desk (SMD), a unified desk that replaces the legacy assignment and digital desks. The SMD model ensures a single, streamlined workflow for planning, producing, and curating stories across platforms.

• Oversee daily coverage decisions and reporter assignments to be competitive across platforms to own the big story daily
• Determine the best format for each story, how it should be presented on different platforms, and a reasonable timeline for delivery of those elements
• Look ahead and plan coverage or upcoming news cycles
• Lead regular story check‑ins throughout the day
• Maximize audience insights to aid in content choices and improve audience reach
• Ensure competitive, engaging, and impactful content for all platforms, including digital platforms: website, mobile app, and streaming
• Plan coverage of stories that matter most to the community, using editorial judgement and social listening
• With the Story Desk Editors, provide editorial support for MSJs, producers, and photojournalists, including reviewing scripts, videos, and content for accuracy, grammar, AP style, digital best practices, fairness, and ethical considerations
• Lead and communicate newsroom coverage during breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency, and balance
• Uphold TEGNA’s journalistic standards and values across all platforms

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or at least 5 years of journalism experience in a local newsroom, digital production, or related role
• Superior news judgement and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions under pressure
• Proven record of success in handling breaking news
• Experience managing a team of journalists
• Demonstrated knowledge regarding content desk operations
• Experience helping transform and manage news‑gathering systems
• Impeccable organisational skills with a keen eye for detail
• Demonstrated success as both a team leader and a team player
• Effective communication skills
• Familiarity with the market, a plus

TEGNA is reimagining local journalism for the newsroom of the future. With 64 stations across 51 markets, we deliver trusted, fact‑based news that informs, engages, and empowers communities. Our values—Demand the Truth, Work Smarter, Debate Fearlessly, Listen Carefully, and Zero‑Base Every Process—guide everything we do.

TEGNA offers comprehensive…