Multimedia journalist and producer

Description:

The Chattanooga Times Free Press is seeking a creative entry-level/early career journalist to fill a new role on its web desk. 

The goal of this role is to further weave digital engagement and interactivity into the award-winning journalism we do every day. 

What that might look like day-to-day? Well, it depends. 

If there is an in-depth written story that would lend well to visual storytelling, the producer could work with a reporter to make an engaging and informative video. If a report comes in with pages of numbers, the producer could make an infographic that makes the data accessible to readers. Or it could look like something we’ve never tried.

We’ve used interactive tools like maps and graphics and videos before. That isn’t new. 

But we’re looking to more strategically include digital and video engagement from step one of our editorial process. And this employee would play an important role in helping us do just that. 

Some key attributes of a great candidate for this role:

• Comfortable with being on camera and with conveying in-depth news information in a way that is engaging and consumable for online audiences on social media and the paper's own platforms

• Skills in video/audio production and editing

• Interested in interacting with the community within and outside of our office

• Experience with posting to social media channels

• An interest in creating graphics, both interactive and static

• Flexibility, because no day will look the same, and adaptability in the changing landscape of digital media

• A love for experimentation guided by journalistic principles and the mentoring of seasoned journalists/editors

The multimedia producer will join a team of five journalists who manage the newspaper's digital content across several platforms to ensure that our vital journalism is available and engaging for our online audiences. 

While the producer would primarily be focused on multimedia and video, the candidate would be trained in multiple aspects of our audience strategy.

At the Times Free Press, our web team as a whole is comprised of journalists who:

• are responsible daily for posting stories and general coverage from our reporters on the website with the idea of being timely and competitive and increasing page views, engagement and the amount of time readers spend on timesfreepress.com.

• produce and/or post interactive features, maps, graphics, photo galleries, listicles and videos.

• have an engaging social media voice and are competent publishing the newspaper's stories across various social media platforms in a way that feels timely and lively 

• are comfortable engaging with readers online

• work with editors and reporters across all sections of the newsroom to coordinate digital coverage; help formulate ideas for digital-only content; and turn a breaking news story on a tight deadline. 

• function as the last line of defense in ensuring that our content is accurate and grammatically sound before being posted on our website and on social media channels. 

• have strong news judgment

• are open to learning new things!

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 40 hours a week. The hybrid, full-time position requires in-office work Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can be worked remotely the rest of the week. The ideal candidate would occasionally be available to work later shifts and weekends depending on the needs of projects.  

Benefits: This role comes with several benefits including paid vacation, 401k, healthcare and more.

About the Chattanooga Times Free Press:

The Times Free Press is a privately owned mid-sized newspaper that circulates in more than two dozen counties in Tennessee and Georgia. The newsroom produces a daily newspaper, three weekly community newspapers and two magazines. Chattanooga is a city on the rise. It’s one of the top outdoor destinations in the country with a growing, thriving downtown and has been a magnet for big industry in recent years. The city is within a convenient two-hour drive to Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains and is known for its fast internet speeds, some of the fastest in the world. 

Interested in applying? Applicants should email their resume, a few examples of produced video/on-camera work and a cover email to tell us a little about yourself, your goals and why you would be a good fit for this role to thayes@timesfreepress.com. Please place the words “multimedia producer” in the subject line. Feel free to reach out to Tierra Hayes, digital and engagement editor, on LinkedIn or by email with any questions.