Director of Photography

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

WFAA is looking for a strong leader in photojournalism to guide our elite team of award-winning photojournalists. This is an opportunity to work with the best in the business during a time of change and opportunity. In this role you will take part in strategic content initiatives with streaming, mobile and linear, while mentoring, recruiting, and training staff on new technology and storytelling tools. The Director of Photography also manages our fleet and works with the news director on managing the tools and equipment this team needs to be outstanding. This position will also set the example for the rest of the staff by producing creative and powerful video content on multiple platforms. The Director of Photography will be an experienced leader who loves local news and works well with other managers in the newsroom and the station.

The Ideal Candidate:
Candidates must be a highly skilled and creative photojournalist, editor and storyteller. Your approach is innovative and audience forward in how we tell our stories. The visual leader needs to have a hands-on leadership style and be a strong coach with excellent evaluation and communication skills. You also have a strong ability to inspire and motivate the staff, ensuring the highest creative visual standards. It is imperative this leader continuously evolve to stay ahead of a talented team to guide them through new tools and skillsets.
While this role is deeply connected to the photojournalists, it is important to note this job is heavily involved in planning, strategy and budgeting in collaboration with the entire leadership team.

Responsibilities:
• Recruit, develop and retain industry leading Visual and Multi-Skilled Journalists.
• Collaborate with technology department on the tools for high end visual presentation and next generation tech to add to the station’s toolkit
• Inspire, motivate and coach the team daily, seeking ways to share skills and knowledge with others and making sure standards are met with every piece of video
• Develop and maintain visual content benchmarks.
• Set and maintain the highest quality standards for visual storytelling
• Partner with staff to improve and innovate WFAA’s visual presentation, constantly challenging the status quo on all platforms, including but not limited to implementing new technology and social/digital skills.
• Collaborate with leaders at the station to plan for big coverage and content opportunities on all platforms
• An idea generator who sees opportunities to grow our streaming platform and mobile audience. You are a future thinker.
• You will directly supervise all photojournalists and manage their schedules
• This role is part of the on-call manager rotation on weekends. This helps develop a larger strategic understanding of the whole operation.

Requirements:
• Management experience in a local TV newsroom.
• Minimum 5 years news photojournalism experience required.
• Advanced skills in shooting, lighting, and non-linear editing for news and production.
• DSLR camera and drone knowledge preferred.
• Sharp editing skills and familiarity with After Effects and other tools to elevate visual presentation through graphical creativity
• Fluent in ENG and SNG operation and digital file transfer technologies.
Journalism and/or Mass Communication degree preferred

Benefits:

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.

Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre-tax basis to TEGNA’s 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.

Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.

TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per year.

* Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.

EEO statement:

TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. We value and consider applications from all qualified candidates without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. TEGNA will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email askhr@tegna.com

Recruiting Fraud Alert:

To all candidates: your personal information and online safety are important to us. Only TEGNA Recruiters or Hiring Managers will reach out to you regarding consideration of your application or background. Communications with TEGNA employees will either come from a TEGNA email address with a domain of tegna.com or one of our affiliate station domains.

Recruiters or Hiring Managers will never request payments, ask for financial account information or sensitive information such as social security numbers.