Primetime Programming - Line Producer

C-SPAN; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

C-SPAN in Washington, DC seeks a lead Control Room Producer for our nightly primetime and other live public affairs programs. You will build rundowns, line-produce and collaborate with the Senior Producer, Hosts and production team.

The role requires strong editorial judgment, deep live control room experience and a solid understanding of national politics and government. Flexibility with hours, including evenings and weekends, is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Political Science, Communications or related field preferred.
• Minimum four years of relevant experience in news or public affairs television, including line producing and live control room experience.
• Demonstrated editorial decision-making experience and strong news judgment.
• Strong knowledge of and interest in politics, government, Congress and public affairs.
• Strong writing and editing skills for live television.

Responsibilities

• Builds, organizes and manages daily program rundowns, including segment placement, interviews, teases, graphics, video, viewer participation and other production elements.
• Line produces live programs, maintaining timing and pacing and making real-time editorial and production decisions in coordination with the Senior Producer.
• Works closely with the Senior Producer and Hosts to execute the editorial direction, structure, pacing and flow of each program.
• Leads coordination of the production team during live broadcasts and communicates clearly with Directors, Hosts, Producers, Associate Producers and Production Assistants in the control room and studio.
• Responds quickly to breaking news and changing editorial priorities, restructuring rundowns and coordinating new program elements as circumstances warrant.
• Monitors live events and breaking developments before and during programs and determines, in coordination with the Senior Producer, how those developments should be incorporated into the broadcasts.
• Writes and edits scripts, opens, teases, guest introductions, transitions and other broadcast copy.
• Reviews and coordinates video, graphics and other production elements to ensure they are accurate, complete and ready for air.
• Works with Associate Producers and Production Assistants to coordinate and execute program elements and ensures production deadlines are met.
• Coordinates viewer participation elements, including calls, texts and other audience interaction, as appropriate.
• Coordinates with digital and social teams to identify significant program moments and content for distribution across C-SPAN platforms.

Skills

Live control room

Line producing

Editorial judgment

Live TV writing

Politics knowledge

Team leadership

Rundown management

Flexible hours

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

GENERAL FUNCTION: Serves as the lead Control Room Producer for C-SPAN's live, nightly primetime programming and, on occasion, other high-profile live C-SPAN public affairs programming. Responsible for building and managing program rundowns and executing programs live on air in collaboration with the Senior Producer, Hosts and production team.

Position requires strong editorial judgment, extensive live control room experience and a deep understanding of national politics, government and public affairs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Builds, organizes and manages daily program rundowns, including segment placement, interviews, teases, graphics, video, viewer participation and other production elements.
• Line produces live programs, maintaining timing and pacing and making real-time editorial and production decisions in coordination with the Senior Producer.
• Works closely with the Senior Producer and Hosts to execute the editorial direction, structure, pacing and flow of each program.
• Leads coordination of the production team during live broadcasts and communicates clearly with Directors, Hosts, Producers, Associate Producers and Production Assistants in the control room and studio.
• Responds quickly to breaking news and changing editorial priorities, restructuring rundowns and coordinating new program elements as circumstances warrant.
• Monitors live events and breaking developments before and during programs and determines, in coordination with the Senior Producer, how those developments should be incorporated into the broadcasts.
• Writes and edits scripts, opens, teases, guest introductions, transitions and other broadcast copy.
• Reviews and coordinates video, graphics and other production elements to ensure they are accurate, complete and ready for air.
• Works with Associate Producers and Production Assistants to coordinate and execute program elements and ensures production deadlines are met.
• Coordinates viewer participation elements, including calls, texts and other audience interaction, as appropriate.
• Coordinates with digital and social teams to identify significant program moments and content for distribution across C-SPAN platforms.
• Helps ensure editorial accuracy and adherence to C-SPAN's standards of fairness, accuracy and balance.
• Line produces other high-profile live C-SPAN public affairs programming as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

BACKGROUND/SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Political Science, Communications or related field preferred.
• Minimum four years of relevant experience in news or public affairs television, including significant line producing and live control room experience.
• Demonstrated editorial decision-making experience and strong news judgment.
• Strong knowledge of and interest in politics, government, Congress and public affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage live program rundowns and make sound editorial and production decisions under deadline.
• Strong writing and editing skills for live television.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively to breaking news and changing program circumstances.
• Strong communication and leadership skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate a production team during live programming.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Hosts, Producers, Directors and editorial, production and technical teams.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple program elements simultaneously.
• Understanding of C-SPAN programming and editorial approach, including its emphasis on primary-source video, substantive interviews, viewer participation and nonpartisan presentation.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and consistently meet deadlines.
• Flexibility with hours and workdays, including evenings and weekends as required.