Producer, Special Projects

Public Media Business Association; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

WETA, the flagship public media station, seeks a Producer to help build a weekly public affairs broadcast and a nightly national news program. You will oversee editorial and production planning, assemble video elements, and coordinate with the control room for live recording in Arlington, VA.

You will write anchor scripts, arrange interviews, coordinate field shoots, and contribute to online and social content while adapting to breaking news.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of producing original news content.
• BA/BS degree in a related field.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced newsroom under deadline pressure.
• Impeccable written communication with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Plan, produce broadcast open and video elements for a weekly 30-minute program.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and hosts on editorial planning and topics.
• Write draft copy for anchor scripts.
• Research and arrange interviews.
• Coordinate field shoots and arrange interviews.
• Acquire and select footage for air from various sources.
• Contribute to online and social content for the program.
• Adapt to breaking news and other assignments as needed.

Skills

News production

Storytelling

Script writing

Live control room experience

Multi-platform production

Education

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

Job description

The Producer serves as an integral member of the team that will produce one live, weekly public affairs broadcast, focusing on local news, politics and culture and a nightly national news broadcast. The producer will take part in editorial and production planning, identifying and assembling video elements, working with craft editor to prepare sequences for air, and seeing the program through all production needs for live recording in coordination with editorial leadership and the control room.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage, plan, and produce broadcast open and video elements for weekly 30-minute public affairs program.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and hosts on editorial planning and future planning of guests and topics.
• Write draft copy for anchor scripts
• Research and arrange interviews.
• Greet broadcast guests and escort them as needed through live interview experience
• Coordinate and arrange field shoots as assigned.
• Acquire, screen, and select footage for air from acquired and original video material and still photos.
• Contribute and support production of online and social content related to the program
• Assist other producers when needed.
• Possess ability to multi-task and pivot to work on daily breaking news and other assignments for the PBS News Hour as needed
• Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• You have a deep appreciation for local and national news and have demonstrated experience reporting and producing in one or more of these areas.
• You have highly honed storytelling skills, news judgement and long form interview producing experience
• You are experienced at writing tight, lively copy for anchors including opens and short scripts. Long form scripting experience is a plus.
• Experience in a live national or local news control room is a plus.
• Experience and appreciation for high quality multi-platform producing with broadcast, podcast, social media content

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of three (3) years of producing original news content. Interest in
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced newsroom setting and to adjust smoothly to changing assignments under deadline pressure.
• Impeccable written communication skills, with careful attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational, project planning and follow-through, presentation, and time management skills. Flexible and able to manage multiple tasks.
• This is a Monday-Friday full time position but you have the availability to work a non-standard or extended work schedule at times with little or no notice.

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.