The Wall Street Journal is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial journalist to lead its global video team. From short-form digital video to streaming documentaries, you will serve as the senior news producer and champion of the newsroom’s original and essential video journalism. This masthead role, based in New York, is a member of the newsroom’s senior leadership team and reports directly to the Editor-in-Chief of The Wall Street Journal.
The Journal’s video department is a 24-hour news operation with video journalists in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong and Singapore. The Journal excels in the creation of news and specials; features, series and explainers; tech news and more, with work published on the Journal’s website, streaming platforms, YouTube, Twitter and other social media platforms.
As the leader of this team, which we are expanding, you will build upon the department’s Emmy- and Pulitzer-winning achievements while bringing your own vision to the fore by steering future projects and developing new opportunities. On a daily basis, with the support of the video department’s leaders, you will set the team’s editorial agenda. You will also partner with commercial colleagues to fulfill our strategic growth objectives for video.
You should be a seasoned journalist who brings extensive expertise in video and a demonstrated ability to lead large teams to produce high-quality journalism while achieving audience and growth targets, as well as being an experienced executive who can work collaboratively and appropriately with commercial colleagues.
As head of video, you will…
- Manage a growing team of video producers, digital journalists and hosts to produce short- and long-form video journalism for publication for the Journal and other external platforms.
- Develop and regularly evaluate the video content strategy across all Journal platforms and formats.
- Define how the Journal’s mission and values are achieved through video across coverage areas and beats.
- Oversee all editorial production for video across the Journal, including studios and operations in New York; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Singapore; London; and remotely.
- Set long-term coverage priorities in consultation with newsroom leaders, guide coverage and bureau chiefs on how to incorporate video, and guide platform editors on best practices for using video.
- Work with the Chief Experience Officer and team to continuously improve the technology underlying the presentation of our video journalism.
- Regularly assess and improve the KPIs of video content (journalistic quality, output, engagement, etc.) and develop strategic and innovative platform concepts.
- Serve as the point person working with Dow Jones’s Chief Business Officer for New Ventures and team to set audience targets and developing strategic growth initiatives.
As a newsroom leader, you will…
- Provide clear quality guidelines for the video department, promoting and adhering to the high standards of the Journal.
- Champion a culture of diversity and inclusion in staffing and editorial decision-making.
- Inspire your team members to consistently produce their best high-quality work.
- Promote a clear, efficient, and effective workflow for the team.
- Contribute by attitude, example, and encouragement to a culture of creativity, enthusiasm, motivation, ownership and professionalism.
- Set clear objectives for direct reports, cascading effectively down.
- Set standards for individual and team performance – ongoing and in regular performance reviews – and identify high-potential members of the team to ensure they are effectively developed.
- Model and encourage effective coordination between the video team and the rest of the newsroom.
- Under the direction of the Managing Editor, manage the budgets of the various sections, and track and meet budget goals for travel, external services, equipment, etc.
You have…
- Considerable experience planning, shooting, editing, and developing video journalism for global news organizations.
- Deep understanding of the brand values and mission of the Journal and how our video journalism should be selected and presented in line with those values.
- Deep understanding of the Journal’s audience and membership structure, and how to use insight, research, and analytics to continually refine this understanding.
- An understanding of industry trends and direction as well as modern and innovative journalism and storytelling techniques.
- Excellent communication skills and a desire to lead and inspire staff to come up with compelling and important visual ideas.
- An ability to delegate, brief, give constructive feedback, set agendas, manage projects, prioritize, and maintain a slate of story ideas to fulfill and advance the video team.
- Executive ability to partner with commercial colleagues, while preserving appropriate editorial independence.
- The innovation and creative thinking of a gifted leader and manager.
To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter explaining how your skills, experience and interests align with the expectations of the role.
The Journal’s reporters, editors, developers, and audio and visual journalists create important and impactful stories, firmly rooted in fact and adhering to the highest ethical standards. We report without fear or bias, and we maintain a proper sense of perspective, detachment and objectivity in our reporting.
To apply, go here.
