Show Lead

CNN Business Arabic | الاقتصادية CNN; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CNN benefits

Job summary

CNN Business Arabic is seeking a Show Lead to own and deliver a show from concept through publication, coordinating with talent, producers, and editorial teams to ensure high editorial quality and strong audience performance.

You will manage the full production cycle from scripting and production through to edit sign-off and final delivery, shaping episodes, supervising on-camera talent, and ensuring formats stay engaging across platforms.

Qualifications

• Proven experience owning and delivering shows from concept to publication.
• End-to-end production workflow management including scripting, shooting, and editing.
• Experience directing on-camera talent and shaping narratives.
• Excellent editorial judgment and strong understanding of regional and international news.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in editorial production or multimedia content creation.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Media, Mass Communication, Film, Television Production, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Own one show end-to-end, including creative direction, format integrity, editorial standards, and episode quality.
• Lead the full production cycle from concept development and scripting through shoot, edit, sign-off, and final delivery.
• Develop and refine show concepts, formats, episode structures, narratives, hooks, and storytelling approaches.
• Direct on-camera talent and contributors, providing clear editorial and creative direction to ensure strong and engaging performances.
• Shape each episode’s narrative, opening hook, pacing, and overall storytelling to maximize audience engagement.
• Manage weekly production schedules and ensure episodes are delivered on time and to the required creative and editorial standards.
• Write, commission, and review scripts for shows, explainers, documentaries, and other video formats as required.
• Review rough cuts, videos, reels, graphics, and other creative assets and provide clear feedback before final approval.
• Work closely with producers, editors, designers, graphics teams, and other creative partners throughout the production process.
• Collaborate with content creators to develop their videos, refine storytelling, and approve final content for publication across relevant platforms.
• Develop new ideas and formats that strengthen the show and contribute to the wider originals portfolio.
• Support the production of reports, VTs, documentaries, interviews, and special projects where required.
• Coordinate with the graphics and production teams on visual storytelling, infographics, video graphics, and other supporting assets.
• Liaise with CNN offices and internal teams on potential content collaborations, interviews, studio bookings, and guest requirements.
• Support coverage of conferences and major events, including coordinating assignments, guests, questions, and editorial requirements where relevant.
• Monitor the show’s publishing cadence and ensure a consistent and sustainable output.
• Own the show’s performance metrics, monitor audience reach, engagement, retention, and other relevant KPIs, and use insights to improve future episodes.
• Work with the Head of Shows and relevant teams to optimize content for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.
• Ensure all content complies with CNN’s editorial standards, approved Stylebook, brand guidelines, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, fairness, originality, and editorial integrity across all episodes.

Skills

Show ownership

End-to-end production

Narrative storytelling

Editorial judgment

Digital media

Audience analytics

Project management

Communication skills

Arabic/English bilingual

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field

Tools

Video editing

Documentary production

Newsroom operations

Job description

CNN Business Arabic is IMI's digital-first Arabic-language business news platform, operated in partnership with CNN International Commercial.

Launched in 2023, it delivers regional and global business, markets, technology and economic news through breaking coverage, analysis, podcasts, interviews and data-led storytelling. Combining CNN's global newsgathering capabilities with IMI's regional expertise, the platform aims to become the leading destination for Arabic-language business journalism, helping audiences understand the forces shaping the global economy.

Role Summary

The Show Lead is responsible for owning and delivering an individual show from concept through publication, ensuring strong creative direction, format integrity, editorial quality, and consistent audience performance. The role manages the full production cycle, from concept development, scripting, and production through to edit sign-off and final delivery, while working closely with talent, producers, creatives, and editorial teams.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Own one show end-to-end, including creative direction, format integrity, editorial standards, and episode quality.
• Lead the full production cycle from concept development and scripting through shoot, edit, sign-off, and final delivery.
• Develop and refine show concepts, formats, episode structures, narratives, hooks, and storytelling approaches.
• Direct on-camera talent and contributors, providing clear editorial and creative direction to ensure strong and engaging performances.
• Shape each episode’s narrative, opening hook, pacing, and overall storytelling to maximize audience engagement.
• Manage weekly production schedules and ensure episodes are delivered on time and to the required creative and editorial standards.
• Write, commission, and review scripts for shows, explainers, documentaries, and other video formats as required.
• Review rough cuts, videos, reels, graphics, and other creative assets and provide clear feedback before final approval.
• Work closely with producers, editors, designers, graphics teams, and other creative partners throughout the production process.
• Collaborate with content creators to develop their videos, refine storytelling, and approve final content for publication across relevant platforms.
• Develop new ideas and formats that strengthen the show and contribute to the wider originals portfolio.
• Support the production of reports, VTs, documentaries, interviews, and special projects where required.
• Coordinate with the graphics and production teams on visual storytelling, infographics, video graphics, and other supporting assets.
• Liaise with CNN offices and internal teams on potential content collaborations, interviews, studio bookings, and guest requirements.
• Support coverage of conferences and major events, including coordinating assignments, guests, questions, and editorial requirements where relevant.
• Monitor the show’s publishing cadence and ensure a consistent and sustainable output.
• Own the show’s performance metrics, monitor audience reach, engagement, retention, and other relevant KPIs, and use insights to improve future episodes.
• Work with the Head of Shows and relevant teams to optimize content for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.
• Ensure all content complies with CNN’s editorial standards, approved Stylebook, brand guidelines, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, fairness, originality, and editorial integrity across all episodes.

Qualification

• Proven experience owning and delivering shows or recurring content formats from concept through publication.
• Strong experience managing end-to-end production workflows, including scripting, shooting, editing, and final delivery.
• Strong experience directing on-camera talent and shaping compelling narratives and storytelling.
• Excellent editorial judgment and strong understanding of regional and international news, business, and current affairs.
• Strong understanding of digital and social-first content, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
• Experience using audience data and performance metrics to improve content and grow audiences.
• Strong creative, organisational, communication, and project-management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced editorial environment.
• Experience in documentary production, video editing, and newsroom operations is highly preferred.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in editorial production, television, digital media, or multimedia content creation.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Media, Mass Communication, Film, Television Production, or a related field.