What's Happening?
TEGNA Inc. is actively recruiting a Story Desk Manager for its Des Moines, Iowa operations. This role is central to the company's strategy of providing trusted local news and services to the Des Moines–Ames DMA. The Story Desk Manager will lead the Story Management
Desk (SMD), which integrates traditional assignment and digital desk functions into a single, streamlined workflow. This position involves overseeing daily coverage decisions, assigning reporters, and coordinating with various newsroom personnel, including Story Desk Editors, reporters, photojournalists, producers, and newsroom managers. The manager will also determine the optimal format and platform for each story, encompassing broadcast, web, mobile, streaming, social media, and vertical video, while establishing timelines for content delivery. The role emphasizes a strong digital- and streaming-first mindset, guiding journalists in story discovery, development, and presentation across all platforms. The Story Desk Manager will also play a key role in programming and growing 'We Are Iowa+', identifying opportunities for live coverage, breaking news, weather, special programming, and original streaming content.
Why It's Important?
This hiring initiative by TEGNA Inc. underscores a significant investment in local journalism within the Des Moines–Ames market. The creation of a unified Story Management Desk aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of news gathering and dissemination, ensuring that local communities receive timely and relevant information. By focusing on a 'digital- and streaming-first' approach, TEGNA is adapting to evolving media consumption habits, which is crucial for the sustainability of local news in the digital age. This role is vital for maintaining editorial independence and upholding journalistic standards across all platforms, which directly impacts public trust in local media. The emphasis on audience data and performance metrics indicates a strategic effort to tailor content to community interests, potentially leading to increased engagement and a more informed populace. Furthermore, the position's responsibility for identifying and pursuing urgent, impactful, and distinctly local stories highlights the importance of community-centric reporting in fostering civic engagement and local accountability.
What's Next?
The successful candidate for the Story Desk Manager position will be tasked with immediately implementing and refining the unified Story Management Desk model. This will involve leading regular story check-ins to evaluate reporting progress, sharpen story focus, and ensure effective content delivery across multiple platforms. A key responsibility will be to analyze audience data and performance metrics to inform editorial decisions and identify opportunities for growth, translating these insights into actionable guidance for the newsroom. The manager will also be instrumental in developing and executing strategies to expand audiences across WeAreIowa.com, the Local 5 mobile app, We Are Iowa+ streaming platforms, and social media. Collaboration with other departments will be essential to identify opportunities for growing and monetizing digital and streaming platforms while upholding editorial independence. The role will also involve providing editorial support to journalists, reviewing content for accuracy, grammar, AP style, and ethical considerations, particularly during breaking news and severe weather events.
Beyond the Headlines
The establishment of a Story Desk Manager role and the emphasis on a unified Story Management Desk reflect a broader trend in the media industry towards integrating traditional and digital news operations. This shift is driven by the need to remain competitive and relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape, where consumers increasingly access news through diverse digital channels. The focus on audience data and performance metrics, while beneficial for tailoring content, also raises questions about the potential influence of algorithms and engagement metrics on editorial decisions. Balancing the pursuit of viral content with the commitment to in-depth, impactful journalism will be a continuous challenge. Moreover, the role's responsibility for fostering a newsroom culture that values urgency, enterprise reporting, collaboration, and experimentation suggests a move towards a more dynamic and adaptive journalistic environment. This could lead to innovative storytelling approaches and a more diverse range of content, but also requires significant investment in training and technology to support these new workflows.
