Director, Media Assets and Archives

Arlington, VA 22206
Posted on  

Job Description

Director, Media Assets and Archives
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Vice President, Production Operations

JOB OBJECTIVE:
The Director, Media Assets is responsible for overseeing the management of the media asset and archive collections, the Media asset management system, and the process of the digitization of media assets for PBS NewsHour. The Director supervises approximately a half dozen employees and may oversee contractors. The Director works primarily with leadership and staff of the PBS NewsHour and WETA Engineering.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Oversee the digitization of NewsHour’s archives.
    • Develop and implement plan for proper long-term transfer and storage of digital assets.
  • Oversee the management of the media library
    • Supervise staff of Media Asset, Archives and contracted staff.
    • Ensure coordination of resources to fulfill media asset requests.
    • Manage storage of show tapes and historic footage.
    • Collaborate with library and media asset management team to set metadata, naming, and folder structure conventions and ensure follow-through.
  • Oversee management of the Media Asset Management (MAM) system
    • Supervise staff.
    • Work to improve Avid workflows related to media management.
    • Collaborate with senior production staff to ensure proper integration of MAM within overall editorial and production process, and with all staff to ensure proper workflows are adhered to.
    • Collaborate with staff and WETA stakeholders to establish and oversee ingest workflows for current material from internal and outside Producers and for integration of past collection materials into the MAM system.
    • Oversee and manage integration of major updates to all MAM-related systems.
    • Work closely with editors to address MAM/editing-related issues, develop related workflows, monitor and ensure compliance to said workflows.
  • Ensure proper training of existing and newly arrived staff members on the MAM and Library systems.
  • Collaborate with licensing division to ensure efficient workflow for delivering licensed material to clients and selected footage to external licensing partners.
  • Develop guides and train new staffers on proper use of news source footage gathering (from AP, ABC, Reuters, etc.), transcoding, export of media.
  • Address news source footage issues with providers on behalf of NewsHour editorial and production staff.
  • Track use of news source footage and report to said providers.
  • Hire, manage, and review new and existing Library and MAM staff.
  • Participate in all editorial meetings.
  • Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned.
SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:
  • Excellent knowledge of digital audio and video standards and equipment.
  • Thorough understanding of video formats, digital intake and management of news feeds and content.
  • Must demonstrate a thorough understanding of professional and broadcast HD and SD tape formats and signal standards.
  • Must demonstrate a thorough understanding of video resolution and audio formatting.
  • Must have strong understanding of media files, including file formats, codecs, file size and storage.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced newsroom setting and adjust smoothly to changing assignments.
  • Ability to work both independently and closely with colleagues in a collaborative manner under deadline.
  • Excellent organizational, project planning, presentation and time management skills with careful attention to detail needed.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • At least 5 years of experience working in a similar role in a newsroom environment.
  • Experience with Avid functionality highly preferred.
  • Experience in library services or video journalism preferred.
  • Or equivalent combination of education and experience
Salary range: $110,000-$130,000.
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. Please also see our Benefits: 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.

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