Story Desk Sr Editor

Senior Story Desk Editor

WFAA, the TEGNA-owned WFAA affiliate in Dallas, is looking for a Senior Story Desk Editor to help drive our transition to the newsroom of the future. This hybrid role combines the skills of an assignment editor and a digital content producer and serves as the hub of the newsroom. As part of the Story Management Desk (SMD), a unified desk that replaces legacy assignment and digital desks, the Senior Story Desk Editor helps plan, produce and curate stories across streaming, digital, social and broadcast platforms. Senior Story Desk Editors are experienced newsroom leaders who bring advanced editorial judgment, strong digital expertise and a deep understanding of audience behavior and analytics. You will lead coverage during breaking news, shape daily story planning and identify high-impact stories that serve the community. This is a senior role on the story desk, working alongside Story Desk Editors to help drive daily coverage. While the role brings added expertise and leadership on the desk, it is not a people management position.

Responsibilities:

• Lead newsroom coverage during breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency and balance
• Identify and plan stories that matter most to the community using editorial judgment, audience insights and social listening
• Create, edit and optimize content across platforms including websites, mobile apps, streaming products and social platforms
• Use analytics and performance data to inform editorial decisions and adjust coverage strategies in real time
• Identify enterprise story opportunities through sourcing and local expertise that result in exclusive or high-impact stories
• Guide newsroom logistics and provide editorial support for MSJs, producers and photojournalists
• Edit reporter content for accuracy, grammar, AP style, fairness and digital best practices
• Enhance storytelling with graphics, video and audience-submitted content
• Step in to support daypart editorial leadership when needed to maintain seamless newsroom operations
• Assist with training and onboarding of Story Desk Editors as needed
• Uphold TEGNA's journalistic standards across all platforms

Requirements:

• 5+ years of journalism experience in a local newsroom, digital production, assignment desk or similar role
• Strong digital storytelling skills and experience publishing across multiple platforms
• Experience using audience analytics tools and performance dashboards
• Strong news judgment and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions under pressure
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Experience with newsroom systems and digital publishing tools
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced newsroom environment
• Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or equivalent experience