Assignment Desk Editor

Job Description

KDVR/KWGN is looking for a dynamic journalist who thrives on breaking news, enterprise stories, and aggressive coverage to join our team as a full-time assignment editor.

The ideal candidate understands how to cover spot news with urgency and attention to detail, and has an understanding of cross-platform, multi-media coverage. Must have excellent news judgment and instincts, with the ability to find stories that will help make our newscasts unique and distinctive.

You should be a highly motivated, very organized, multi-tasker. You should be a good communicator with people in the newsroom and crews in the field. You should be a natural leader who can instantly take charge during breaking news.

You should be skilled in monitoring scanners, social media and other sources to find and break news in our community. Be prepared to handle multiple breaking news stories in a fast-paced newsroom.

The successful candidate must also be able to write and post stories to the station website and social media channels. You must be able to learn to push breaking news alerts on the station app and livestream news coverage online.

Previous assignment desk experience is important – however if you've worked in a news organization in another position, -- you might have the skills it takes to do this job. If you're a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or PIO looking for a new challenge – you would be encouraged to apply. Knowledge of how court cases move through the system is required. Must have good interpersonal skills. A curious mind, investigational skills and the ability to dig deeper into a story is essential.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Multi-task successfully, especially during breaking news
• Monitor social media and find news
• Post news to social media, write stories for digital, and learn to livestream and send push alerts
• Create relationships with sources, and PIOs and help break news in our community.
• Dispatch crews with urgency to cover news
• Keep the day's assignments organized using newsroom software
• Communicate with filed crews, producers, digital, and managers about changes in newsgathering and assignments
• Build strong relationships with assignment editors at other Nexstar stations.

WHAT YOU NEED:
• Prior assignment desk and/or newsroom experience very helpful, and not required
• A calm, cool demeanor especially in stressful situations.
• A passion for problem solving
• Strong editorial judgment
• A passion for tracking and winning breaking news.
• Familiarity with Daybook and iNEWS also helpful; and can be easily learned
• The ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, early mornings, weekends and holidays.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
• Pay: $50k+
• Comprehensive benefits package including group health & dental, paid time off, 401(k) and more.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-r0ybn8-3-140-188-16-42 in your application.