Your New Role...The visual investigations senior manager is a highly skilled reporter/producer ready to help lead a new CNN team of reporters, producers, editors and animators. This team is tasked with producing groundbreaking original videos that use all the tools of open-source and data-driven reporting to expose wrongdoing and hold powerful people and institutions accountable.
Must be a self-starter, enthusiastic and curious, capable of inspiring the team and executing on multiple projects while maintaining the highest level of reporting, rigor, and production.
The main responsibilities will include working with team members to identify reporting targets and stories, develop reporting plans, support production and scripting, and help ensure the quality and integrity of the reporting and presentation. The team will be part of the wider CNN Investigations unit and the senior manager will collaborate with senior editors and unit leadership on potential targets and reporting plans.
The senior manager must be well-versed in OSINT methods and tools and have a deep familiarity with CNN's platforms. Must be able to work independently if needed to oversee all aspects of a story including assignment, deadlines, coordination, as well as liaise with investigation team leadership, shows, programming, photo and data visualization teams.
The senior manager helps develop story pitches and participates in story brainstorming meetings. They will contribute creative ideas for storytelling and multiplatform video production. They will also be responsible for overseeing field assignment logistics, such as determining locations, securing permissions, liaising with CNN security, overseeing the story budget and supervising teams in the field.
The senior manager will have demonstrated experience in creatively using all aspects of story research and newsgathering, including graphics, archival, and field production, running edits and executing multiple projects simultaneously. The job will also requires an understanding of how to roll out stories across digital, tv and social to seek a wide audience for the reporting.
Your Role Accountabilities...- Produce original investigative stories primarily for US platforms from idea to publication with strong video and motion graphics components for all CNN's platforms.
- Work in collaboration with other team members inside and outside the unit including reporters, correspondents, senior producers, writers, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
- Conduct deep-dive open-source research and verification, leveraging advanced digital forensic tools and methodologies.
- Proficiency in OSINT methods and tools; including video verification, AI detection, geolocation, chronolocation, social media scraping and metadata analysis. Proficient in analyzing satellite imagery, as well as marine and flight tracking, etc.
- Conceive creative, dynamic graphics and oversee field assignment logistics, including permissions, security, and budgeting.
- Collaborate with animators, editors, data journalists, and other teams to visualize and elevate complex stories.
- Support story research and newsgathering, collaborating with unit leaders on story direction and focus.
- Strong scripting, storytelling and editorial skills, with a solid command of visual narrative techniques.
- Manage multiple high-impact investigative projects, balancing long-term initiatives with rapid-turn exclusives.
- Contribute to investigative strategy, proactively identifying emerging trends and opportunities for original reporting.
- Uphold and advance CNN's journalistic standards, ethics, and commitment to impactful storytelling.
Qualifications & Experience... - Minimum of 8 years of production experience in the news television industry or digital video journalism, with investigative reporting experience a necessity.
- 3+ years of management experience leading producers, editors, or cross-functional teams.
- Must have strong news judgment as well as written, verbal, interpersonal communication, research, and production skills.
- Need strong writing skills
- Past reporting and field experience is an advantage.
- BA/BS in journalism, politics or a related field preferred or equivalent in experience.
How We Get Things Done...This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $109,900.00 - $204,100.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.
