Live Television Writer, Olympic Games

Job Description

Freelance Live Television Writer, Olympic Games

Responsibilities

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Job Description

PLEASE NOTE: This is a project / limited term position with an estimated duration of 1 month during Games Time, unless otherwise amended or terminated as deliverables within this project are completed.

Role Purpose:

This position will be part of the editorial team working on NBC's linear television and streaming coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Olympic writers are responsible for generating copy for live and/or taped studio show segments and working with producers, talent and researchers to ensure accuracy and to prepare copy to go to air. This role is for Olympics fans who have broad knowledge of the sports, athletes, and storylines, and who also have experience working in a live television studio show environment as a writer with a proven ability to work under pressure and to quickly earn and gain the trust of show talent and producers.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer who can both paint the picture of the Paris Olympics and transport an audience of millions to the center of the sporting world while also understanding the time constraints of working in live television. Adaptability, agility, and quick thinking are key.

Experience with live television show writing is more important to success in this role than a deep knowledge of Olympic sports, though following Olympic storylines will set up the writer for even more success.

Responsibilities:
• Write copy for live or taped segments during NBC's Olympics coverage. This includes preparing ahead of time and adjusting on the fly. Responsibilities include writing leads and tags to feature pieces, introducing sports and contextualizing to a broad nation-wide audience, covering breaking news and developing stories, throwing to either lived or taped coverage, telling athlete stories, and ensuring that the most noteworthy stories of the day are being shared for and easily understood by a large, diverse audience.
• Work with researchers to ensure accuracy and proper context of writing, though a critical part of the job is ensuring that your work is accurate, crisp, and concise on the first draft.
• Coordinate and communicate with show talent and producers to edit copy before it goes to air. A successful writer must always be listening to show format changes from the producer and be unafraid to ask questions to confirm that show flow is understood, as the writer will play the lead role in relaying that information to the show talent. It is essential that the writer can make changes in real-time while also working ahead on copy to come later in the show.
• Work under limited time constraints and constantly update copy in iNews as programming of the show changes throughout the day
• Contribute ideas to the show each day and be proactive in shaping segments as needed

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree
• Strong writing skills and storytelling abilities
• Experience in writing for television
• Sound editorial judgment and fact-checking abilities
• Ability to generate copy in a high-pressure environment with limited time constraints

Desired Characteristics:
• Understanding of and passion for Olympic sports
• Ability to work effectively with a team
• Willingness to take and implement feedback quickly
• Familiarity with iNews

Eligibility Requirements:
(note job #:      )
• Ability to work the full duration of the Olympic Games
• Willingness to work overtime, overnight hours, weekends
• Must be willing to work in Stamford, CT
• Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States
• Must be 18 years or older
• It is the policy of NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal' s affiliated businesses to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Additional Information

NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, where applicable.

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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rovw24-18-117-229-13-42 in your application.