Story desk editor

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.

WTOL 11, the CBS affiliate in Toledo, Ohio, is evolving how we plan, produce and distribute local journalism—and we’re looking for an evening Story Desk Editor to help lead coverage during the later part of the news cycle.

This hybrid role combines the strengths of an assignment editor and a digital content producer, serving as a central hub for afternoon and evening news operations. The Story Desk Editor helps drive editorial decisions during a critical time of day—when breaking news develops, stories are updated and advanced, and content is prepared for both evening newscasts and digital audiences.

The Story Desk Editor is part of WTOL 11’s Story Management Desk (SMD), a unified desk that replaces traditional assignment and digital silos. In this evening-focused role, you will help manage coverage as stories evolve throughout the day, ensuring updates are timely, accurate and optimized for multiple platforms.

You’ll work closely with producers, MSJs, photojournalists and digital teams to update breaking news, refine ongoing coverage and support storytelling across broadcast, digital, streaming and social platforms. You will also play a key role in setting up the next day’s coverage by identifying follow‑ups and ensuring continuity between shifts.

This position requires strong editorial judgment, the ability to multitask in a fast‑paced environment, and comfort making decisions as news develops in real time.

• Lead and communicate newsroom coverage during afternoon and evening breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency and balance
• Monitor developing stories and ensure timely updates across all platforms
• Support evening newscasts and streaming coverage, including coordinating with producers and reporters
• Help shape coverage throughout the day by identifying follow‑ups and advancing ongoing stories
• Create, edit and publish content for digital platforms, including the website, mobile app and streaming products
• Curate and optimize content across broadcast, digital, streaming and social platforms during peak evening audience periods
• Support vertical video and social storytelling, including:
  • Identifying stories suited for Tik Tok, Instagram Reels, You Tube Shorts and other vertical formats
  • Writing and editing compelling vertical video headlines, descriptions and captions
  • Assisting reporters and producers with framing and pacing for short‑form video
  • Repurposing breaking and enterprise stories into vertical formats
• Launch and manage WTOL 11+ live streams as needed, including routing sources, starting streams, writing descriptions and sending alerts
• Enhance storytelling with creative elements such as video, graphics, maps and audience‑submitted content
• Use audience data and performance metrics to inform coverage decisions and improve reach and engagement
• Communicate clearly with newsroom leadership and the next shift to ensure a smooth transition into overnight and morning coverage
• Uphold our journalistic standards and WTOL 11’s commitment to ethical, community‑focused journalism across all platforms

• 1–3 years of experience in a local newsroom, digital production role, or related journalism position
• Strong news judgment and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions as stories develop
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with attention to accuracy and clarity under deadline pressure
• Familiarity with newsroom systems and CMS tools
• Comfort working across multiple platforms, including digital, social and video
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a deadline‑driven environment
• Willingness to work afternoon/evening shifts
• A collaborative, solutions‑oriented mindset
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or equivalent experience

$20 – $22.25 USD per hour

TEGNA offers…