Story Desk Manager

Story Desk Manager

WNEP-TV Wilkes Barre

TEGNA Inc. 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.

WNEP-TV, TEGNA's ABC affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa. has an opening for a Story Desk Manager. 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. This position requires planning and coordination of on-air and online news coverage in our 17-county viewing area in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Position Overview:

The Story Desk Manager works with other newsroom leaders to oversee daily news editorial decisions while also setting strategic goals for the newsroom. You will guide our team of content creators in story discovery and presentation across all platforms with a strong digital-first directive. As the Story Desk Manager, you will manage breaking news coverage on all platforms and direct digital strategy for WNEP's far-reaching CTV app, mobile app and social media sites.

You will play a key role in charting the station's digital content and growth strategy. We're looking for an exceptional people-focused leader with experience training teams to grow audiences on multiple platforms while maintaining a focus on stories that matter to our community. Analyzing data and disseminating information to the entire newsroom is also an imperative part of the role.

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.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily coverage decisions and reporter assignments to be competitive across platforms with the goal 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
• Actively partner with the news director to program our CTV app for optimal success
• Look ahead and plan coverage for upcoming news cycles
• Lead regular story check-ins throughout the day
• Analyze and actively use data and metrics to inform editorial and strategic decisions and to create accountability for results
• Ensure competitive, engaging and impactful content for all platforms, including digital platforms: website, mobile app and streaming
• Collaborate with other departments to monetize the success of our digital platforms
• 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

Requirements:

• 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 judgment and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions under pressure
• Proven record of success handling breaking news
• Experience managing a team of journalists
• Demonstrated knowledge regarding content desk operations
• Experience analyzing audience data and identifying behavioral trends. Google Analytics experience a major bonus
• Experience helping transform and manage news-gathering systems
• Impeccable organizational skills with a keen eye for detail
• Demonstrated success as both a team leader and a team player
• Strong written and verbal communications, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with the market, a plus
• Ability to work…