Story Desk Editor

TEGNA Inc.; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) with company match

Teladoc & Spring Health access

Paid time off

Nine paid holidays

Job summary

TEGNA Inc. in Knoxville is seeking a Story Desk Editor to produce and distribute accurate breaking news content across all WBIR platforms. You will curate, edit, and package stories with attention to SEO, audience engagement, and fast-paced deadlines.

The role requires strong writing, AP style mastery, and experience with CMS and digital analytics. You will collaborate with the newsroom to plan content, manage podcasts, and optimize 24/7 streaming coverage.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in journalism, communications and/or equivalent experience in the field
• 1–3 years of experience writing breaking news articles or AP style news articles
• Strong communication and organizational skills under time pressure
• Ability to handle live, breaking news calmly and rapidly changing coverage
• Knowledge of AP style, copy editing and SEO best practices
• Experience with CMS and photo/video editing systems
• Ability to write in an exciting, conversational tone
• Experience creating content on social platforms (Instagram, X, Facebook)
• Ability to interpret digital analytics and adjust content strategy
• Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, Canva is a plus
• Willingness to work mornings, nights and weekends

Responsibilities

• Write and distribute original and accurate breaking news content
• Curate and schedule content across station platforms (website, app, social, streaming)
• Edit reporter stories for grammar, clarity, structure and AP style
• Use subheads, hyperlinks, graphics and media to enhance digital stories
• Write in an exciting, captivating and authentic tone
• Research for facts and credibility
• Monitor press releases and use social listening for new content
• Analyze data/metrics to inform editorial decisions
• Manage the WBIR podcast room calendar and scheduling
• Schedule and optimize 24/7 streaming content based on analytics
• Coordinate with story desk and broadcast producers to align priorities
• Maintain newsroom integrity and station brand across platforms

Skills

News writing

AP style

SEO best practices

Analytics

Social media

Education

BA/BS in journalism or Communications

Tools

CMS

Photo editing

Video editing

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 than100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

WBIR-TV, the TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate in Knoxville, is searching for an Story Desk Editor who thrives in a fast-paced news environment and has an audience-first approach to writing, producing and distributing local news content.Our digital producers monitor digital audience trends to identify and write engaging local news content that broadens our audience. They are responsible for curating quality content and overseeing the audience experience across all WBIR-TV website, mobile, app, streaming and social media platforms. They work as part of the larger content team to break news and tell great stories in a 24/7 news environment.

The ideal candidate is an avid news consumer and writes accurate, compelling content with a sense of urgency.Qualified candidates should be strong writers, first, with the ability to write quickly and accurately while tracking multiple streams of information. They should also have solid news judgment and experience producing and copy-editing content for digital platforms. Experience with SEO best practices and audience listening are a big plus.We’re also looking for someone with strong initiative and an inner drive who is ready to learn and grow.

Responsibilities

• Write and distribute original and accurate breaking news content
• Curate and schedule news content on all station platforms, including website, mobile app, social media and streaming platforms
• Edit reporter stories for grammar, clarity, structure, AP style and optimize the content for digital
• Use creative production or story-packaging techniques, like subheads, hyperlinks, graphics and media (viewer pictures, user-generated content, etc.) to enhance digital stories
• Write in an exciting, captivating and authentic manner
• Research for facts and credibility
• Monitor news releases and use social listening to find new content, enterprise stories and make community contacts
• Analyze and actively use data and metrics to inform editorial and strategic decisions
• Manages the WBIR podcast room calendar, including scheduling recordings and coordinating guests
• Ensures podcast recordings have a producer assigned and are properly staffedSchedules and optimizes 24/7 streaming content by becoming familiar with our analytics, audience trends and what content performs best
• Serve as the liaison between the story desk team and broadcast producers, making sure producers are up to date on new shows, streaming priorities and what content we need to push
• Ensure the newsroom upholds journalistic integrity and the station brand across platforms

Requirements

• BA/BS in journalism, communications and/or equivalent experience in the field
• 1-3 years of experience writing breaking news articles or writing news articles in AP style
• Strong communication and organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to calmly handle live, breaking news situations and rapidly changing coverage
• Strong news and editorial judgment, and an understanding of the tenets of professional journalism
• Strong knowledge of AP style, copy editing and SEO best practices
• Experience with CMS, photo and video-editing systems preferred
• The ability to write in an exciting, captivating and conversational tone is preferred
• Experience creating and managing content on social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
• An aptitude for creating and packaging engaging, audience-driven content
• Knowledge of how to interpret and use digital analytics is a plus
• Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, Canva is a plus
• Ability to work various shifts, including mornings, nights and weekends

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 year.
• * Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.

EEO statement

TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We areproud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. We value and consider applications from all qualified candidates without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. TEGNA will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilitiesin accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email [e-mail]