Story Desk Manager

Job Summary

As the Story Desk Manager at KHOU-TV Houston, you will lead the Story Management Desk (SMD), a unified desk that replaces the legacy assignment and digital desks. The SMD model ensures a single, streamlined workflow for planning, producing, and curating stories across platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily coverage decisions and reporter assignments to be competitive across platforms with the goal to own the big story daily
• Determine the best format for each story, how it should be presented on different platforms, and a reasonable timeline for delivery of those elements
• Look ahead and plan coverage for upcoming news cycles
• Lead regular story check-ins throughout the day
• Maximize audience insights to aid in content choices and improve audience reach
• Ensure competitive, engaging, and impactful content for all platforms, including digital platforms: website, mobile app, and streaming
• Plan coverage of stories that matter most to the community, using editorial judgment and social listening
• Provide editorial support for MSJs, producers, and photojournalists, including reviewing scripts, videos, and content for accuracy, grammar, AP style, digital best practices, fairness, and ethical considerations
• Lead and communicate newsroom coverage during breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency, and balance
• Uphold TEGNA's journalistic standards and values across all platforms

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or at least 5 years of journalism experience in a local newsroom, digital production, or related role
• Superior news judgment and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions under pressure
• Proven record of success handling breaking news
• Experience managing a team of journalists
• Demonstrated knowledge regarding content desk operations
• Experience helping transform and manage news-gathering systems
• Impeccable organizational skills with a keen eye for detail
• Demonstrated success as both a team leader and a team player
• Effective communication skills
• Familiarity with the market, a plus

Benefits

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental, and financial health of our employees and their families. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and eye care coverage
• Fertility, surrogacy, and adoption assistance
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) program with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Virtual doctor's appointments and therapy sessions