Job DescriptionThe OpportunityHearst Connecticut Media Group is hiring two innovative, collaborative
Senior Audience Producers to help shape how our journalism reaches, engages and retains local audiences.
Each Senior Audience Producer will serve as an audience-strategy partner to editors and reporters across one or more topic teams. Coverage areas may include data, state politics, investigations, education, business, real estate, high school sports and UConn sports.
This is a hands-on newsroom role for someone who combines strong editorial judgment with audience analytics, platform expertise and an experimentation mindset. You will help teams understand audience behavior, identify coverage opportunities, optimize journalism across platforms and responsibly evaluate emerging tools - including AI - under HCMG's editorial standards.
Working closely with the broader audience team, you will help increase engagement, reader loyalty, subscriptions and return visits while supporting high-impact local journalism.
What You'll Do- Partner with editors, reporters, photographers and audience team members to develop and execute audience strategies for assigned coverage areas.
- Use audience data to identify opportunities, evaluate performance and inform short- and long-term coverage decisions.
- Translate analytics into clear, actionable recommendations for newsroom colleagues with varying levels of data experience.
- Optimize stories and other journalism for websites, search, social platforms, newsletters and additional distribution channels.
- Develop effective headlines, framing, packaging and promotional strategies while maintaining editorial accuracy and integrity.
- Apply topic-area knowledge and audience insights to identify story ideas, recurring coverage opportunities, content series and annual special projects.
- Coordinate across departments during breaking news and planned events to ensure audiences receive timely, accurate updates across platforms.
- Create or edit multimedia assets, including video, photography and audio, to strengthen storytelling and distribution.
- Test new formats, tools and audience-development approaches, measure their effectiveness and share lessons with the newsroom.
- Help newsroom teams assess and use AI-supported tools responsibly, transparently and in accordance with editorial policies.
- Support a newsroom culture that values experimentation, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
What You'll Bring- Strong editorial judgment and experience working in a deadline-driven newsroom or comparable publishing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to use analytics to guide editorial, distribution or audience development decisions.
- Experience optimizing journalism for websites, search, social media and newsletters.
- Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to explain data and audience insights clearly to editors, reporters and other stakeholders.
- Experience creating or editing multimedia content using tools such as Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere or comparable platforms.
- Strong project management skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- A collaborative approach and the ability to build effective working relationships across teams.
- Comfort troubleshooting technical or workflow challenges in a fast-moving environment.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule when coverage requires it, including occasional nights and weekends.
Preferred Qualifications- Knowledge of one or more relevant coverage areas, such as data, politics, investigations, sports, education, business or real estate.
- Experience planning or producing livestreams, podcasts or other recurring audience-focused programming. One of the two openings may have a stronger emphasis on these formats.
- Experience contributing to audience growth, subscription conversion or reader-retention initiatives.
- Familiarity with newsroom AI policies, responsible experimentation or emerging publishing technologies.
- A bachelor's degree in journalism, English, communications or a related field-or equivalent professional experience.
BenefitsAt Hearst Newspapers we not only support our employees through personal and professional development, but we also believe in promoting each individual's physical, financial and emotional wellbeing (and that of their family):
- Physical Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
- Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with matching program in most markets.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
- Paid Parental Leave: Support for growing families, with paid leave for new parents.
- Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
- Emotional Wellbeing: Be your best self with our mental wellness benefits.
- LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for every individual's unique needs.
- Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Helping you along every step of your family journey.
- Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: We care about your pets, too - helping you keep them happy and healthy.
How to ApplyPlease submit:
- A resume
- A cover letter explaining your interest in the role
- Relevant work samples or clips
- Nonconfidential examples or summaries of audience strategies, social campaigns, newsletters, video work, or other relevant projects.
- Please do not submit confidential or proprietary materials belonging to a current or former employer.
- This role is based in Norwalk, Connecticut and is not eligible for remote candidates.
