WLNS 6 News, the CBS affiliate in Lansing, Michigan, is seeking a Digital Content Manager to lead the team on all digital platforms of WLNS and its in-depth content. This manager in the news department will report to the News Director and will supervise a team of digital content producers, as well as coordinate with the marketing and sales departments. Position interfaces regularly with corporate digital managers on local and group projects, and conducts training and metrics meetings.
The Digital Content Manager will be responsible for overseeing and training web and TV streaming reporters and producers, social media, and digital video. This includes having a hand in building the audience for WLNS+, the station's CTV streaming channel.
The Digital Content Manager is responsible for a team of journalists, who gather news for both broadcast and digital media. They lead both the digital desk and assignment desk to gather information and push it out to the appropriate platform. (TV, Digital, OTT).
The Digital Content Manager will also oversee and improve the daily packaging of all digital editorial content published and distributed across the local site and media platforms to increase user traffic and engagement. An audience expert who understands how to grow distribution platforms to maximize readership. Flexibility to perform various duties and work across multiple platforms. Ability to jump into the mix and create high-performing content as needed.
The Digital Content Manager will be involved in the editorial process in the local newsroom and will attend meetings as needed. The Digital Content Director will be responsible for meeting local KPI goals and ensuring traffic is regularly growing and needs to be familiar with all aspects of digital duties and be able to jump in as needed.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Attends local editorial meetings and serves as a bridge between broadcast and digital in the local newsroom
- Trains and coaches, a team of local digital journalists
- Excellent at writing engaging headlines that increase page views and packaging content that grows page views per visitor, video-on-demand metrics, and time on site
- Works with digital reporters, site producers, and distro producers to ensure a steady stream of interesting content is packaged in an interactive way and promoted in a way that generates interest
- Evaluates traffic trends to make decisions on both daily content and longer-term content development that will grow traffic
- Leads team members responsible for planning and implementing special coverage projects (severe weather, breaking news, elections, enterprise original digital content)
- Monitors major news websites, local and state news websites, blogs, and social media for breaking news and trending topics
- Promotes news content on social media
- Meets big KPIs, ensures the team is meeting their role-specific KPIs
- Ensures local team meets daily deadlines
- Creates a positive work environment
- Track record of training journalists who prove to be successful
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of SEO best practices and AP Style
- Organized, technical problem solver and quick decision-maker
- Enjoy working in teams and have excellent interpersonal skills
- Ease with/ability to learn new technology independently and quickly
- Ability to take direction and quickly implement new ideas
- Comfortable adapting to changes in an evolving industry and thrives under pressure
- Self-motivated, competitive spirit and assertive personality with the ability to balance multiple competing projects and priorities
- Schedule flexibility (nights, weekends)
- Strong understanding of web analytics; Google Analytics, Chartbeat experience a plus
- Proficiency in MS Office a must; HTML, CSS, OBS systems, and Photoshop experience a plus
Home to a state capital and a Big Ten university, Lansing is an excellent (and affordable) news town with a high standard of living.
Skill/ Experience Requirements
- 2 years of experience in digital content and journalism
- Capable of researching, interviewing, and writing original news articles
- Clever headline writer that gets readers to click
- Strong multi-tasking abilities
- Organized, technical problem solver and quick decision maker
- Knowledge of SEO best practices and AP Style
- Enjoys working in teams and has excellent interpersonal skills
- Ease with/ability to learn new technology independently and quickly
- Strong communicator
- Some schedule flexibility (nights, weekends)
- Regularly meets measurements of success
- Strong understanding of Google Analytics; Chartbeat experience a plus
- Proficiency in MS Office; HTML, CSS and Photoshop experience a plus