News Assistant – National Affairs

AAJA26; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

WETA in Arlington, VA seeks a News Assistant to support the national affairs unit and PBS NewsHour, covering science, medicine, education and economics. The role blends field and studio work with digital production; you will log video, perform research, conduct guest outreach and assist with scripts.

Recent graduates gain hands-on experience over 9 months with the national affairs team, rotating through control room and studio shifts, then collaborate with the digital team for 3 more months on

Qualifications

• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Demonstrated interest in journalism and/or television production.
• Professional phone manner and solid administrative skills.
• Strong work ethic and effective time management.
• Knowledge of PBS NewsHour’s journalistic style.

Responsibilities

• Researching stories and potential interview subjects.
• Assisting producers on field shoots.
• Contributing to digital content and online post-production.
• Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned.

Skills

Writing & Research

Journalism Interest

Phone & Admin

Time Management

PBS NewsHour Knowledge

Education

BA/BS

Job description

WETA

3939 Campbell Ave, Arlington, Virginia, 22206, United States

Phone: [phone]

Web: weta.org

Company Profile

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Job Category: Online | New Media,

Employment Type: Full time,

Salary: $22.00 per hour

Posted: 10.22.2026

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The News Assistant program is designed to give recent college graduates practical experience in a broadcast news setting, covering a wide variety of subjects, including science, medicine, education and economics. During their tenure, News Assistants are exposed to many aspects of producing a nightly television news program. The National Affairs News Assistant will work directly with the national affairs unit to assist with logging video, gathering footage, research, guest outreach and field shoots. The News Assistant will work with the national affairs unit for 9 months, during which the News Assistant will also rotate through control room and studio shifts, assisting the anchors and other producers with scripts and other crucial needs of the daily broadcast. The News Assistant will then work with the digital team for another 3 months to assist with online production of the PBS News Hour.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Researching stories and potential interview subjects.
• Assisting producers on field shoots.
• Contributing to digital content and online post-production.
• Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Demonstrated interest in journalism and/or television production.
• Professional phone manner and solid administrative skills.
• Strong work ethic and effective time management.
• Knowledge ofPBS NewsHour’s journalistic style.

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.