NEWS PRODUCER (PRIMARY) - WKYT

Gray Media, Inc.; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

WKYT-TV/Gray Media in Lexington, KY seeks a producer to coordinate gathering of news, generate story ideas, schedule coverage, and deliver news material. You will work with management, producers, and reporters to plan coverage and ensure timely, accurate reporting.

The role requires organizing resources, coordinating with teams, and producing under pressure, with potential involvement in in-depth series and on-air reporting. This is a full-time on-site position in Lexington.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of journalism experience.
• Commitment to journalistic ethics and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate effectively about local, national, and world news.
• Basic computer/word processing skills preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan well-rounded news coverage with management, producers and reporters.
• Maintain files of possible stories and sources.
• Gather and communicate information accurately to the production team.
• Select stories for coverage and keep them up to date.
• Schedule facilities and satellite time; coordinate equipment distribution.
• Contribute to in-depth series and special coverage; act as producer or reporter as needed.
• Write stories when assigned and train less experienced staff.

Skills

Journalistic ethics

Effective communication

Work under pressure

Flexible schedule

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Today, we are a growing multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first- and/or second-highest-rated television station in average all-day ratings across 116 such markets measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 47 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WKYT

WKYT-TV is home to the CBS and CW affiliates in beautiful Lexington, KY. The station sits amongst picturesque horse farms in the Thoroughbred Capital of the World.

The Lexington DMA (#63) provides a competitive news environment, and WKYT has emerged as the news leader, producing over 11.5 hours of news per day. Our team of award-winning professionals thrives in a fast-paced, yet fun, environment.

Lexington is home to a thriving downtown scene, phenomenal restaurants and breweries, and, of course, Keeneland Race Course, the most beautiful horse track you'll ever visit. For outdoor enthusiasts, Red River Gorge and the Appalachian Mountains are calling your name. And in the summers, Lake Cumberland is just a short drive south to get your boating fix.

Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky, where basketball is a way of life! Once you see a game at historic Rupp Arena, your life will never be the same!

Job Summary/Description

WKYT in Lexington, KY, has an opportunity for a producer to coordinate the gathering of news, the generation of story ideas, the scheduling and assignment of coverage, and the delivery of news material.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Work with news management, producers, and reporters to plan well-rounded news coverage.
• Maintain extensive working files of possible stories, background information, and news sources.
• Gather information about news as it develops and communicate it effectively and accurately to the production team.
• Collaborate with managers and producers to select stories for coverage and to keep them up to date.
• Schedule and order facilities, including satellite time.
• Assign and coordinate the distribution of news-gathering equipment.
• Take an active role in planning in-depth series and special coverage, acting as a producer or reporter as called for.
• Work accurately under pressure.
• Dispatch news crews, maintain schedule logs, deal with telephone story tips, listen to police radios, read newswires and e-mail, and stay in contact with sources to stay up to date with breaking news.
• Write stories when assigned, train less experienced personnel, and represent WKYT courteously and professionally.

Qualifications/Requirements

• The ideal candidate needs a minimum of 2 years of journalism experience.
• Must have a commitment to journalistic standards of ethics and accuracy with an enthusiasm for journalism.
• Must possess the ability to communicate effectively with general knowledge and interest in local, national and world news.
• Basic computer knowledge/word processing skills are preferred.
• Must have the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, and work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Bachelor`s degree is preferred.

WKYT-TV/Gray Media is a drug-free company

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with Gray’s employees' ability to perform their job duties may result in discipline, up to and including discharge.

Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.