As ABC News prepares to cut as many as 400 positions, the network is also posting new jobs.
On Feb. 23, ABC News president David Westin sent an email to staffers announcing the changes ahead. “When we are finished,” wrote Westin, “many job descriptions will be different, different skill sets may be required, and, yes, we will likely have substantially fewer people on staff at ABC News.”
A few days after that email, new jobs were posted. TVNewser obtained an email which was sent to members of the AAJA, the Asian American Journalists Association, with details about what ABC News is looking for.
• Earlier on TVNewser: Massive Cuts at ABC News; 300-400 Positions to be Eliminated
From: [Redacted]
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 23:18:52 +0000
To: AAJA New York City
Subject: [aaja-nyc] ABC News JOB POSTINGS
ABC NEWS NEWSGATHERING has multiple openings for SENIOR DIGITAL JOURNALISTS. Senior digital journalists are responsible for digital news gathering and reporting for ABC News. Positions will be based in various domestic and international locations.
Responsibilities include newsgathering (either alone or as part of a reporting team), producing, writing and presenting stories as needed or assigned. Additional responsibilities include pitching unique content, reporting stories and covering news events. Responsibilities also include acting as the point person for identifying breaking, trend and/or interesting news in their region and communicating that to the desk, programs and platforms.
Candidates must have strong production, writing, booking and related skills, especially the ability to deliver on-air and off-air content.
Candidates must be able to utilize technology and digital resources to report and obtain content. Candidates should have 5 to 7 years of production and writing experience and a proven ability to report stories under deadline.
Candidates should have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
Candidates must have the ability to learn new workflows and utilize digital technology for newsgathering. Candidates should also have strong project management abilities; capable of prioritizing and handling multiple projects simultaneously, under tight time constraints.
Candidates should be self-starters, highly motivated and willing to work independently.