Assignment Editor

HEARST STATIONS INC; Needham Heights (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) matching

Emotional Wellness Support

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

LGBTQ+ Health Services

Additional benefits

Job summary

WCVB-TV, part of Hearst Stations Inc., seeks an Assignment Editor to drive daily coverage across broadcast and digital platforms. You’ll coordinate field and digital crews, lead the morning editorial meeting, and decide which stories advance in fast-paced conditions.

Ideal candidates show strong news judgment, curiosity, and calm under pressure, with a track record in accurate, timely reporting and coordinating multi-team efforts across platforms.

Qualifications

• Professional, respectful communication skills.
• Strong news judgment and ability to prioritize multiple stories in a fast-moving environment.
• Experience with digital publishing, mobile alerts, social media and audience engagement.
• A commitment to accuracy and responsible use of content, especially during breaking news.
• Knowledge of local newsgathering technology, newsroom terminology, and field logistics; comfortable learning new tools/workflows including AI.
• Ability to communicate concise, accurate information to multiple teams simultaneously.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, even under deadline pressure.
• Willingness to work early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily coverage with field and digital crews, producers, and management.
• Lead the newsroom's morning editorial meeting.
• Make quick, sound editorial decisions about stories for broadcast and digital platforms.
• Track field crews, communicate changes and logistical needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with first responders, officials, community leaders, and other newsmakers.
• Share verified updates with anchors, reporters, producers, editors, and leadership.
• Publish breaking-news content across station platforms, including website and push alerts.
• Monitor social platforms for credible tips, eyewitness content, and public response.

Skills

News judgment

Digital publishing

Social media

Audience engagement

AI tools

Team communication

Shift flexibility

Tools

Newsroom technology

Job description

WCVB-TV, the market-leading ABC affiliate in Boston is looking for a sharp, fast-moving Assignment Editor who can help win the day across all platforms - everywhere people turn for the information they need.

This role demands someone with strong news judgment, relentless curiosity, and a calm command of breaking news. Top candidates must be able to identify what matters most in our community, verify information quickly, coordinate coverage in the field, and make sure our newsroom is delivering useful, distinctive journalism to our multi-faceted audience.

Understanding that an assignment desk is more than scanners and press releases is critical in this position. The desk is the newsroom's nerve center where listening, verifying, communicating, planning ahead, and finding stories that move beyond the obvious are all vital to creating winning content. This position reports to the Managing Editor.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily coverage, working with multiple field and digital crews, newscast producers, and news management.
• Lead the newsroom's morning editorial meeting.
• Make quick, sound editorial decisions about which stories should be pursued for broadcast and digital platforms.
• Track crews in the field, communicate changing details and logistical needs, and help ensure reporters and photographers are positioned for the strongest coverage.
• Build and maintain relationships with first responders, public officials, community leaders, and other newsmakers.
• Share verified updates quickly and clearly with anchors, reporters, producers, digital editors, and newsroom leadership.
• Publish breaking-news content across station platforms, including website updates and mobile push alerts.
• Monitor social platforms for credible news tips, eyewitness content, and public response.

Qualifications

• Professional, respectful communication skills
• Strong news judgment and ability to prioritize multiple stories in a fast-moving environment
• Experience with digital publishing, mobile alerts, social media and audience engagement
• A commitment to accuracy and responsible use of content, especially during breaking news
• Knowledge of local newsgathering technology, newsroom terminology, and field logistics and comfort learning new tools and workflows, including the use of AI
• Ability to communicate concise, accurate information to multiple teams simultaneously
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, even under deadline pressure
• Willingness to work a variety of shifts, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays

Salary

The estimated base salary range for this role is between $85,000 and $100,000. The actual base pay offered is dependent upon many factors, such as transferable skills, work experience, business needs, market demands and conditions, including geographic location where the work will be performed, and other factors permitted by law. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Values in Action

At Hearst Television we tell stories every day. Stories about people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. That's why, behind the scenes, we believe in being an organization that fosters collaboration and open communication, ensuring that the content we create is authentic, accurate, and connected to the communities we serve.

Benefits

Hearst's benefit programs are modern, flexible and designed to focus on you. As a Hearst employee, you and your spouse or partner or dependents would have access to the following benefits.

• Medical | Dental | Vision
• 401(k) matching
• Emotional Wellness Support
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• LGBTQ+ Health Services
• Additional benefits to meet your and your family's needs