News Desk Associate

This is a Full Time Job

Desk Associate, MS NOW Newsgathering

Job Description

MS NOW is seeking a highly organized and enthusiastic Desk Associate to join our Newsgathering team in Washington. This entry-level position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced newsroom environment. The Desk Associate will support the assignment desk with communication, coordination, and content management responsibilities. This role provides excellent opportunities for recent graduates or early-career professionals to learn the basics of reporting and production by observing and working with some of the best, most experienced news professionals at a major news organization.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Desk Associates' main duties and responsibilities including administrative, operational, and editorial tasks for the MS NOW Washington Bureau.
• Answering Washington Bureau news desk phones.
• Coordinating and gathering incoming news videos.
• Logging news events and flagging news for the bureau's coverage teams.
• Support the D.C. Newsgathering team with editorial and production tasks during program airings/tapings.
• Greeting guests for news programs.
• Assist in research and other editorial projects and operational needs

Desk assistants' additional professional opportunities may include:
• Field-producing coverage of news events or elements for news reports.
• Digital journalist camera-shooting of news events.

Producing news reports for various MS NOW offerings across platforms.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 1 year experience in television production
• Unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States.
• 24/7 availability: ability/willingness to work overtime, nights, holidays, and weekends, often with short notice.
• Must be willing to work in Washington, D.C.

Desired Characteristics
• Strong journalistic writing skills, research skills, editorial judgment and attention to detail.
• Experience in a newsroom focused on television, video or other multimedia journalism
• Strong interest in and demonstrated knowledge of current affairs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and telephone communications skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft word and outlook e-mail.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize assignments.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment, often under tight deadline pressures.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.