News Producer
Nexstar
Shreveport, LA
SHIFT: TBD. Overtime possible with breaking news, elections, severe weather, and/or other station initiatives
REPORTS TO: Digital Operations Director
JOB SUMMARY: The Digital Reporter (DR) is a long-form enterprise writer with a passion for digging deeper into a story through public records, relationships with agency contacts, and cold-calling potential story sources and subjects. The ideal candidate will identify, research, and investigate story topics and deliver them in a way that resonates with readers; must be able to provide context and advance additional layers to a story.
The Digital Reporter is a passionate writer and leader who takes initiative and thinks critically and independently. As the first person to get real-time news out to the DMA a DR's deadline is always now. A digital reporter's primary responsibility is to write relevant engaging shareable stories that generate web traffic for KTALnews.com while also promoting that content through our many digital platforms.
This is a position evaluated by web traffic growth, meaning this candidate must be able to prioritize growing Ktalnews.com's web/app traffic while balancing/maintaining journalistic integrity.
This is position largely centered around working from a desk while conducting research and making calls. This is not an on-air position; however, opportunities may arise to discuss stories on broadcast platforms.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Be the first to report breaking news stories; monitor analytic tools, RSS feeds, social media, alerts, and all regional media for interesting and/or trending stories
• Write on average daily 3-5 web stories
• Constantly monitor the competition to ensure no stories across the DMA are missed
• Post, package, and promote stories from third-party feed partners (Nexstar, AP, NBC, etc.)
• Proofread, package, and promote broadcast reporter stories
• Work with producers and news field crew on adding video to web stories (when applicable)
• Manage live streams (when applicable)
• Push engaging and breaking stories on mobile app (when applicable)
• Generate meaningful audience engagement on social media without baiting (when applicable)
• Develop new digital content ideas for Ktalnews.com
• Build relationships with local leaders and agencies
• Package stories for recirc in an engaging manner to increase website pages per session and decrease bounce rate
• Takes feedback, critiques, analysis, and assessments from Digital Director and Digital Lead with a positive and willing to learn attitude
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
• Proficiency in AP Style writing and SEO best practices
• Clever headline writer that gets readers to click
• Works with urgency, minimum 60 words-per-minute typing speed
• Ability to generate high engagement social media posts with link click-throughs
• Familiar with Google Analytics, Chartbeat, Social Flow, and WordPress
• Excels in a fast-paced, sometimes high-pressure, a work environment with accurate, visual, in- depth, digital coverage
• Comfortable with cold calling to develop stories
• Highly detail-oriented with excellent newsroom judgment
• Ability to multi-task; flexible with the schedule in times of breaking news, severe weather, etc.
• High digital aptitude with respect to the latest CMS and social media updates and trends
• Takes initiative to seek out and understand new digital news applications and resources
• Possesses journalistic integrity and understanding of viewer needs and expectations
• Can communicate, coordinate, and collaborate with other members of the newsroom
• Maintain a positive work environment through active team participation and cooperation with co-workers in all departments
• Responds positively to feedback
• Other duties as assigned
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Required experience of 2+ years reporting for a print or online newsroom, as well as expertise with CMS workflow and digital storytelling tools. Achieved a bachelor's degree in Communication, Marketing, Journalism. Equivalent experience may substitute.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: High stress, high energy environment with deadline pressures. Some travel may be required on rare occasions.
OUR COMPANY
With 199 television stations (including partner stations) in 116 markets, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is the largest TV station operator in the country. But we are more than that. We are also a technology company. Along with a broad range of broadcast opportunities, Nexstar staffs a growing and diversified digital media operation encompassing content management and mobile platforms, content marketing, targeted advertising products, and strategic digital design and advertising operations. From newsroom to sales to operations to digital technology, joining Nexstar Nation offers unlimited opportunities for your career endeavors.
OUR VALUES
We respect our audience, customers, employees, and owners. We encourage every individual's contribution and personal growth. We honor diversity. We foster work environments that provide personal pride through job satisfaction and balanced life. We embrace the communities in which we operate. We promote open communications, innovation, and creativity. We strive for excellence in all our endeavors. We are in the local content business, providing multiple platforms for news, entertainment, and successful marketing solutions, enriching each community we serve. Each of our television stations is local service business.
OPPORTUNITY
With markets ranging from small to major, Nexstar has a place for every experience level. Whether you are just starting your broadcasting career or ready to make the leap into a larger market, Nexstar offers a broad range of opportunities. And that same market diversity allows Nexstar to give employees room to grow and progress in their careers. As your experience, ability, talent, and ambition grow, so too will your options within Nexstar Nation.
Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rn8omo-52-55-19-189-42 in your application.
Nexstar Media Group is America’s largest local television and media company with 196 full power stations (including partner stations) in 114 markets addressing nearly 63% of US television households and a growing digital media operation.