What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Producer | Austin Culture & News position at VPGCreative?
Applications are OPEN until: Nov. 24, 2023
Please note: to be considered for this role you must live in the Austin metro area due to the community-focused nature of the work. Other than that, this role is remote/in the field.
Who We Are And What We’re Doing
VPGCreative (VPGC) is a creative consultancy based in Austin, TX. You can learn more about our work by visiting our case studies and work samples page.
In our day-to-day, we partner with organizations of all sizes - local to global - and focus our efforts on innovating within the areas of community, culture, change, and communication through the strategic design of creative media and ecosystems.
We’ve recently kicked off a new in-house project designed to explore how local communities can build better connections and engagement through community-driven, digital-first media ecosystems.
The first local community we’re designing for with this project is the Austin metro area.
The Project
The first phase of our project will focus on developing a diverse slate of locally-produced media and programming; starting with our first talkshow concept that will center community-driven conversations on the diverse issues local Austines care about.
We’ll bring this concept to life through a hosted, weekly talk show featuring diverse panel discussions that will encourage thoughtful and challenging debate with local Austin community members; from citizens and journalists to local influencers to business and government leaders.
But make no mistake - this isn’t just another web series or talk show. In addition to the host of the show, we're looking to create a brand new type of media role for this project; a locally embedded, hybrid-creative role between a journalist, a digital content creator, and a media producer.
The Role
As a Community Producer, you'll serve as a direct connection to the hearts and minds of the local Austin community while wearing a wide range of tactical and strategic hats.
You'll have a storyteller’s heart, a journalist’s dedication to truth, a project manager’s toolkit for getting stuff done, a filmmaker’s sense of wonder and composition, a social media strategist’s capacity for keeping up with trends, and a child’s curiosity paired with an adult’s accountability.
You'll bring creativity and organization to every project; turning local issues and stories into engaging and accessible content that resonates with, and represents the local Austin community.
Your day-to-day will be dynamic and community-driven. You’ll research, develop, and produce news and culture media projects aligned to editorial planning and the local zeitgeist.
You’ll build and nurture local relationships with community leaders and citizens, and serve as a go-to team member for insights on the evolving pulse of the community.
You’ll also participate in weekly panel discussions on our flagship talk show as a rotating local panelist. For relevant shows, you’ll engage as a panelist on a wide range of local topics, along with reporting on locally-produced media projects focused on community issues and culture.
Here’s a list of experiences/interests that fit this role (it’s OK not to have them all):
- Proven experience in media production and content creation; social influencer, branding, marketing, communications, film/tv, etc.
We're reinventing local media.
We believe that…
If you’re interested in something like that, we’d love to hear from you.
Application Process
If this sounds like your cup of tea, please apply by sending the following 3 things to careers@vpgcreative.com:
Please note: to be considered for this role you must live in the Austin metro area due to the community-focused nature of the work. Other than that, this role is remote/in the field.
Who We Are And What We’re Doing
VPGCreative (VPGC) is a creative consultancy based in Austin, TX. You can learn more about our work by visiting our case studies and work samples page.
In our day-to-day, we partner with organizations of all sizes - local to global - and focus our efforts on innovating within the areas of community, culture, change, and communication through the strategic design of creative media and ecosystems.
We’ve recently kicked off a new in-house project designed to explore how local communities can build better connections and engagement through community-driven, digital-first media ecosystems.
The first local community we’re designing for with this project is the Austin metro area.
The Project
The first phase of our project will focus on developing a diverse slate of locally-produced media and programming; starting with our first talkshow concept that will center community-driven conversations on the diverse issues local Austines care about.
We’ll bring this concept to life through a hosted, weekly talk show featuring diverse panel discussions that will encourage thoughtful and challenging debate with local Austin community members; from citizens and journalists to local influencers to business and government leaders.
But make no mistake - this isn’t just another web series or talk show. In addition to the host of the show, we're looking to create a brand new type of media role for this project; a locally embedded, hybrid-creative role between a journalist, a digital content creator, and a media producer.
The Role
As a Community Producer, you'll serve as a direct connection to the hearts and minds of the local Austin community while wearing a wide range of tactical and strategic hats.
You'll have a storyteller’s heart, a journalist’s dedication to truth, a project manager’s toolkit for getting stuff done, a filmmaker’s sense of wonder and composition, a social media strategist’s capacity for keeping up with trends, and a child’s curiosity paired with an adult’s accountability.
You'll bring creativity and organization to every project; turning local issues and stories into engaging and accessible content that resonates with, and represents the local Austin community.
Your day-to-day will be dynamic and community-driven. You’ll research, develop, and produce news and culture media projects aligned to editorial planning and the local zeitgeist.
You’ll build and nurture local relationships with community leaders and citizens, and serve as a go-to team member for insights on the evolving pulse of the community.
You’ll also participate in weekly panel discussions on our flagship talk show as a rotating local panelist. For relevant shows, you’ll engage as a panelist on a wide range of local topics, along with reporting on locally-produced media projects focused on community issues and culture.
Here’s a list of experiences/interests that fit this role (it’s OK not to have them all):
- Proven experience in media production and content creation; social influencer, branding, marketing, communications, film/tv, etc.
- Experience and interest in journalism, communications, and storytelling; from telling personally-researched stories over drinks at a party to crafting organizational communication strategies to uncovering government coverups (we’re fans of all of it)
- Strong project management and organization skills; the ability and drive to lead projects from ideation to delivery (parenting, global corporate initiatives, etc.)
- Experience in video production and videography; film, tv, social content, epic home movies, etc.
- Knowledge of social media strategies and platforms; using them, keeping up with them, leveraging them
- Proven writing and editing skills.
- A keen eye for identifying emerging issues within a community the ability to communicate those issues to others in a way that’s relevant to them (i.e. “Why should I care?”)
- Interest and capacity to work independently AND collaboratively in a dynamic, quick, and supportive environment
- Strong interpersonal and conversational skills; you must have the ability to communicate effectively - and with empathy - with yourself and others
- Research and identify local news and cultural stories aligning with project goals
- Develop and pitch innovative content ideas
- Produce projects for video and mixed media content
- Lead the entire content creation process from ideation to distribution (when needed)
- Contribute to social media strategy, ensuring effective distribution of collateral and content
- Utilize videography skills to create visually compelling stories independently
- Periodically participate in recorded panel discussions as part of our flagship talk show pilot
We're reinventing local media.
We believe that…
- the state of local news has been rapidly declining, with citizens losing their connection to their communities and representation in media. This has resulted in a homogenized media landscape that fails to accurately reflect the diversity of local communities.
- the decline in local news coverage is having a significant impact on American politics.
- with fewer journalists reporting on local events and issues, communities are losing their connection to what is happening in their own backyard. This not only erodes the public's trust in media but also undermines their ability to make informed decisions and participate in the democratic process.
If you’re interested in something like that, we’d love to hear from you.
Application Process
If this sounds like your cup of tea, please apply by sending the following 3 things to careers@vpgcreative.com:
- A copy of your resume
- Your portfolio and/or content samples for writing AND video (e.g. articles, blogs, that screenplay nobody knows about - produced video content, shorts, socials, epic home movies, etc.).
- An email introducing yourself a bit about why this flavor of work is interesting to you personally.