Associate Producer, WETA Local Productions

Brief Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under the primary supervision of the Senior Director & Executive Producer, Local Productions, and additional supervision of the department’s Senior Production Manager and Senior Producer(s), this Associate Producer (AP) will support the research, development, production, post-production and delivery of broadcast, streaming and online assets of their assigned local programs/series/special projects for WETA. Additionally, and as time and opportunity allow, this AP will also develop, create and deliver short-form content (i.e. digital, social, promotional installments) in support of their programs.

All producing efforts will be in support of developing and delivering the highest quality television, digital, social, interstitial and/or promotional stories about the people, places, arts, and culture of the Washington, DC area and in support of WETA’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities

• The role of Associate Producer will assist WETA Local Productions’ Executive Producer, Senior Producers, and Senior Production Manager in producing local programs and series as well as short form. digital, social, interstitial stories about the people, places, arts, culture, and happenings of the Washington, DC area.
• Continue to support, develop, and execute the work of Local Productions’ series and producers with high-level research, pitches, and segment ideas.
• In collaboration with Series/Senior Producers, engage and coordinate projects as a main point of contact/liaison with series talent, stakeholders, locations, crew members to prepare for successful story and footage collection in the field.
• Serve as a vital connection and manager of to all production and post-production schedules, workflows, legal information, music cue sheets, EDLs and release forms for all projects assigned.
• Continue to develop and streamline efforts and SOPs regarding acquired footage, licenses rights for archival, stock and any other third-party materials.
• Conduct interviews in the field as needed and opportunities present themselves.
• Support Director/Senior Producers and team filming on sets and/or studios with ideas, notes, continuity, and creative input.
• Take on the responsibility of coordinating and organizing ALL media assets captured in the field as well as the transfer, ingest and management of media AND field/hard drives.
• Ensure the delivery and cataloging of footage as media from the field is ingest in preparation for edit, delivery and preservation.
• Support scriptwriting through research, fact-checking, and rights clearances.
• Write scripts/segments when given the opportunity.
• Support the Series/Senior Producer/Showrunner’s vision of the segment/series in the edit bay by participating in edit sessions, and supervising edits when needed.
• As time allows, support and expand the reach of the series by innovating across other WETA digital, social, promotional and communication in some of the following ways:
• Create/concept/pitch and execute new ideas for short-form content connected to the spirit, energy and personality of shows worked on.
• Film and/or photograph content on set if allowed and whenever possible.
• Organize and manage media for this additional content.
• Coordinate, edit, write and deliver additional digital and social content to WETA stakeholders.
• Develop additional and collaborative social strategies with Local Productions’ producers and/or series hosts as momentum is gained.
• Participate in special projects and perform additional duties as assigned.
  
  

Core Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, film & television studies, English, or related field.
• Minimum two years’ experience in television production & post-production.
• Experience working on television programs & digital/social media is preferred.
• Or equivalent combination of education & experience.
  
  

Additional Skills And Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide range of people.
• Ability to work remotely and self-direct.
• Flexible and creative disposition.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced setting and adjust to shifting assignments as time and needs require.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of how to source, clear and license acquired third-party, archival materials and stock footage.
• Experience with program deliverables (i.e. EDLs, annotated scripts, music cue sheets)
• Understanding media management workflows and technology including: non-linear editing, ingesting, transcoding, transcribing and logging.
• Experience with Google products & platforms, Frameio, REV, Vimeo, Hightail, etc. all important.
• Experience with AI tools also a plus.
• Working knowledge and curiosity of social media platforms (primarily YouTube & Instagram) and interest in learning AI technology, tools and platforms.
• Experience with editing software (Adobe Suite, Premiere, ProTools, etc.) not a requirement, but a plus.
• Ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively as part of a team, in an environment of multiple projects, priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to interact with a wide variety of people using diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, film & television studies, English, or related field.
  
  

LOCATION:

WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations. We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible. Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.

Company Overview

WETA and its subsidiary NewsHour Productions LLC serve local and national public media audiences by producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. Through broadcast, digital and community services, the organization offers compelling, diverse programming on five television channels, including primary channel WETA PBS, and on WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the nation’s capital; produces a portfolio of national television productions, including PBS NewsHour, recognized globally for bringing balanced, in-depth news coverage to all Americans; creates impactful documentaries with longtime production partners Ken Burns and Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; features a variety of content offerings on weta.org, WETA Passport, the PBS Video App and the WETA Classical App; and serves communities near and far with education and engagement initiatives that contribute to the company’s mission of public service. Benefits | WETA

Equal Employment Opportunity

WETA and NewsHour Productions are equal opportunity employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and internships. WETA and NewsHour Productions make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.