Morning Executive Producer - WPXI TV

Position Overview

The Morning Executive Producer at WPXI TV Pittsburgh will manage a team of TV and digital producers, writers, anchors, reporters, photographers, editors, and directors. The EP crafts the look of the shows, manages story count, flow and placement of every story. They set the coverage expectation and manage repetition. The EP manages breaking news and the speed and style in which we get it on the air. The person in this job must be a quick-moving innovator who can lead the team in a changing media environment. The EP assists in all aspects of leading and managing a team such as establishing schedules, goal setting, and employee relations. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Newscast & Brand Management – 90% 

• Lead digital effort to engage viewers as they wake up and look at their phones first
• Execute live-streaming strategy to encourage viewership on mobile and on other digital platforms
• Work closely with talent on social posts to encourage viewership of the newscast
• Innovate to match research as viewing behavior changes
• Craft newscast look by working with the Creative Services Department
• Manage story count and placement
• Must be intimate with the rundown
• Manage story count vs. big story coverage
• Copy edits stories in the newscast and ensures that they are on target with research objectives
• Set the coverage expectation by holding meetings with producers and conducting newscast critiques
• Manage repetition within newscasts and from newscast to newscast
• Ensure the product stays on brand
• Hold producers accountable on story selection and ensures anchors and meteorologists stay on target with delivery
• Manage breaking news
• Ensure that we are on the air quickly
• Monitor the execution in the control room
• Facilitate drills to ensure talent is up to speed.  
• Hold writing seminars and trainings for new employees

Administrative – 10%  

• Lead and manages a team of TV and digital producers, writers, anchors, reporters, photographers, editors, and directors
• Assist in establishing schedules, goal setting, and employee relations

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 or more years of newsroom experience required  
• Must be a quick leading innovator who can lead a team in a changing media environment  
• Must understand and be able to execute on evolving digital platforms  
• Must be a good teacher and leader  
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Must be well read on current affairs and have a wide range of working knowledge and understanding of general interest subjects
• Must be able to understand research and execute on the findings
• Ability to work well with others and deal with employee issues appropriately

Physical Demands:

• A combination of physical work (standing, walking, lifting and carrying items such as laptop computers, pulling file drawers)
• Document review and computer use, including ability to manipulate fingers to operate computer keyboard and mouse
• Expected to work under deadline constraints and meet precise deadlines (including self-imposed deadlines)
• Routine interruptions and unforeseen assignments are to be expected
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

Preferred Qualifications

• B.A. Degree in Journalism, Communications, or other field of study preferred  
• Large market experience preferred