Chief Photographer

TEGNA, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Fertility assistance

Surrogacy assistance

Adoption assistance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Company 401(k) match

Teladoc and mental health services

Job summary

TEGNA Inc. in Saint Petersburg, FL is seeking a Chief Photographer to lead our photojournalism team across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms. This is a hands‑on leadership role, shooting and editing daily news, coordinating crews and upholding ethical standards.

You will manage field equipment, drones, schedules and training, while partnering with news managers to recruit and develop the next generation of visual storytellers at 10 Tampa Bay News.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in local TV photojournalism or editing.
• Leadership experience as chief/lead photographer preferred.
• Strong storytelling and visual standards.

Responsibilities

• Shoot, edit and go live on daily news and breaking stories.
• Set and maintain visual and storytelling standards for the team.
• Coach photojournalists on lighting, audio, composition and editing.

Skills

Shooting and editing

Lighting

Audio

Nonlinear editing (Edius/Adobe Premier

Drone operations

Coaching/leadership

Time management

Tools

LiveU

TVU

Dejero

Job description

About TEGNA

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.

WTSP-TV (10 Tampa Bay News), the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate in Saint Petersburg, FL, is looking for a Chief Photographer to lead our team of photojournalists to visual excellence across broadcast, streaming, digital and social platforms. This is a hands-on leadership role.

Our Chief Photographer sets the bar in the field, shooting and editing daily and breaking news, while scheduling, supervising and coaching our photojournalists and MSJs. You'll own our field equipment and fleet, plan crew coverage for hurricanes and other major events, and partner with news managers to recruit and develop the next generation of visual storytellers at 10 Tampa Bay News.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a highly skilled, creative photojournalist and storyteller who loves local news. You lead by example, coach with clear and constructive feedback, and inspire a team to raise its standards every day. You're organized, calm on deadline, a breaking news champion, and always looking for the next tool or technique that helps us tell better stories for our audience.

Responsibilities:

In this role, you will:

• Shoot, edit and go live on daily news, enterprise and breaking stories, leading by example in the field
• Set and maintain visual and storytelling standards for the photojournalism team
• Coach photojournalists and MSJs on storytelling, lighting, audio, natural sound, composition and editing through regular critiques and hands‑on training
• Build and manage photojournalist schedules covering all newscasts, streaming and digital needs, including nights, weekends, holidays and severe weather
• Supervise photojournalists day to day, including assignments, time and attendance, overtime and performance
• Manage field equipment and the news fleet, including inventory, maintenance, repairs, budgeting and purchase recommendations for cameras, audio, lighting, bonded cellular units and news vehicles
• Oversee the station's drone program in partnership with news leadership and TEGNA's drone team, including FAA compliance and pilot certification
• Plan crew deployment and logistics for hurricanes, elections, major sporting events and other large‑scale coverage
• Work closely with the assignment desk, producers and managers to match crews to stories
• Partner with news managers to source, interview, onboard and train new photojournalists
• Uphold TEGNA's ethics, safety and legal standards in the field
• Take part in the management on‑call rotation
• Perform other tasks as required by the news leadership team

Requirements:

Here's what you need:

• 7+ years of experience as a news photojournalist/editor, preferably in a local TV newsroom
• Previous experience as a chief photographer, lead photographer or in a similar leadership role preferred
• Advanced skills in shooting, lighting, audio and nonlinear editing (Edius and/or Adobe Premiere)
• Experience operating live newsgathering tools such as LiveU, TVU or Dejero
• Strong coaching, communication and organizational skills
• Ability to make quick, sound and ethical decisions under deadline pressure
• Flexibility to work any shift, including nights, early mornings, weekends, holidays, overtime and extended hours during severe weather and breaking news
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds of gear and work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and a clean driving record

Preferred:

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or the ability to earn it soon after hire
• Experience covering hurricanes and severe weather
• Experience creating content for streaming, digital and social platforms, including vertical video
• NPPA recognition

Benefits:

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part‑time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.

Our 401(k) program offers full, part‑time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre‑tax basis to TEGNA's 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.

Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor's appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.

TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per