Associate Producer, News

WETA; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WETA is seeking an Associate Producer, News for PBS NewsHour’s News Production Unit in Arlington, VA. You will write and produce daily on-air and online items, collaborating with correspondents and senior producers to deliver compelling news segments.

You’ll research, pitch, and help craft field pieces, while mentoring junior staff and adapting to fast-paced newsroom demands. This role requests a journalism degree and newsroom experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience working in journalism.
• Reporting or blogging experience required.
• Or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Superior writing skills under deadline pressure for short items and longer features.
• Experience with multi-media and broadcast video production is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced newsroom and adapt to changing assignments.
• Excellent organizational, project planning, presentation, and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Write and produce broadcast copy, on deadline, for daily video news summaries (30 seconds to 2–4 minutes).
• Research and help produce day-of-air and forward-looking segments in coordination with on-air correspondents and senior producers.
• Develop pitches for field segments with detailed story plans and interview subjects.
• Mentor and train junior team members as needed.

Skills

Excellent writing skills

News production

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Collaboration

Education

BA/BS (4-Year College/University Degree

Tools

Multi-media production

Broadcast video production

Job description

The Associate Producer, News will serve as an integral member of the PBS NewsHour’s News Production Unit helping to write and produce daily items for use on-air and on-line.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Write and produce broadcast copy, objectively and on deadline, for use in the PBS NewsHour’s daily video news summaries. These can include short 30-second items and longer, 2-4 minute tapes, both of which require video, graphics and other visual elements.
• Research and help produce day-of-air and forward-looking segments on a variety of subjects in close coordination with the PBS NewsHour’s team of on-air correspondents and Senior producers.
• Develop pitches for field segments that include a detailed explanation of the story to be filmed, the elements to be gathered, and the interviewees to feature in any completed tape.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to interact with a wide variety of people using diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
• Help train/develop skillsets of more junior team members as needed.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of computer technology to efficiently accomplish work.
• Availability to work a non-standard or extended work schedule at times with little or no notice.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience working in journalism, preferably for a national outlet.
• Reporting or blogging experience required.
• Or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to create and manage fresh, compelling news and feature content for broadcast.
• Superior writing skills, under deadline pressure, for both short turn-around news items and longer-term feature content.
• Experience with multi-media and broadcast video production is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced newsroom setting and adjust smoothly to changing assignments.
• Ability to work closely with colleagues in a collaborative manner under deadlines.
• Excellent organizational, project planning, presentation, and time management skills with careful attention to detail needed.

EDUCATION:

• BA/BS (4-Year College/University Degree

LOCATION:

WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations. We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible. Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

WETA, the flagship public media station in the nation’s capital, produces and distributes content that informs, inspires, and enriches lives.

As the second-largest producing station for the public media system, WETA creates programming to explore history, arts, and culture, partnering with acclaimed filmmakers such as Ken Burns and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. National WETA productions include The American Revolution and Finding Your Roots, among many others. WETA is also home to PBS News, the primary daily, breaking, and special news producer for PBS. Its broadcast productions include PBS News Hour, Washington Week with The Atlantic, Horizons from PBS News, and Compass Points from PBS News, as well as specials, documentaries, and a robust footprint across digital platforms.

Locally, WETA serves audiences across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, through television, radio, and digital platforms. Audiences access WETA on broadcast channels WETA PBS, WETA UK, WETA Metro, WETA World, and WETA PBS Kids, and digitally through the free streaming platformWETA+. Listeners tune into WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the Greater Washington area, via radio, online, and the WETA Classical app. Benefits | WETA

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

WETA and NewsHour Productions are equal opportunity employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and internships. WETA and NewsHour Productions make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.