WTOL 11 Story Desk Editor

About the role

The Story Desk Editor is part of WTOL 11’s **Story Management Desk (SMD)**, a unified desk that replaces traditional assignment and digital silos. This hybrid role combines the strengths of an assignment editor and a digital content producer, serving as a central hub for daily news operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and communicate newsroom coverage during breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency and balance
• Monitor developing stories and identify opportunities for follow-up coverage
• Cook up newsroom logistics and provide editorial guidance to reporters, producers and photojournalists
• Create, edit and publish content for digital platforms, including the website, mobile app and streaming products
• Curate and optimize content across broadcast, digital, streaming and social platforms
• Support vertical video and social storytelling, including:
• Identifying stories suited for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and other vertical formats
• Writing and editing compelling vertical video headlines, descriptions and captions
• Assisting reporters and producers with framing and pacing for short-form video
• Repurposing breaking and enterprise stories into vertical formats
• Liaising with sources to launch and manage WTOL 11+ livestreams as needed, including routing sources, starting streams, writing descriptions and sending alerts
• Monitoring scanners, cameras, social platforms, audience submissions and other news-gathering tools to identify emerging stories
• Using audience data and performance metrics to inform coverage decisions and improve reach and engagement
• Enhancing storytelling with creative elements such as video, graphics, maps and audience-submitted content
• Maintaining daily planning tools and contributing to newsroom coverage planning
• Communicating effectively across shifts to ensure continuity of coverage

Requirements

• 1–3 years of experience in a local newsroom, digital production role, assignment desk role or related journalism position
• Strong news judgment and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with attention to accuracy and clarity under deadline pressure
• Familiarity with newsroom systems, content management systems and digital publishing tools
• Comfort working across multiple platforms, including digital, social, streaming and video
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment
• Experience with breaking news coverage and live event coordination preferred
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or equivalent experience