TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.
KUSA, the TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate in Denver, is transforming the way we gather and present news, and we’re looking for a Story Desk Manager to embrace a leadership role in this transition to the newsroom of the future.
The successful candidate will guide our team of content creators in story discovery and presentation across all platforms. The person in this position will help manage the story development process throughout the day, having experience with the best practices of running an assignment desk and training others to excel at developing local contacts and responding to breaking news.
They will also shape our digital content strategy, using available analytics and best practices to present content across platforms: website, app, streaming and social media.
They’ll also be part of a leadership team that oversees the station’s coverage of breaking news, developing stories and enterprise reporting for streaming, online, app, social media and linear television platforms, while maintaining a focus on stories that matter to our community.
The ideal candidate is an experienced journalist with a knack for building a team of people who work smarter, not harder, and are as adept at seeking information as they are in presenting those stories in modern and creative ways. The aptitude to identify and pursue stories that are urgent, impactful and newsworthy is important. The ability to respond urgently to breaking news, calmly manage chaos, pivot quickly, solve problems creatively, train a motivated team, and guide a multi-platform newsroom’s content are all desirable for this leader.
Role Summary
As the Story Desk Manager, you will lead the Story Management Desk (SMD), a unified desk that replaces the legacy assignment and digital desks. The SMD model ensures a single, streamlined workflow for planning, producing and curating stories across platforms.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate on daily coverage decisions to be competitive across platforms with the goal to own the big story daily
- Determine the best format for each story, how it should be presented on different platforms and a reasonable timeline for delivery of those elements
- Look ahead and plan coverage or upcoming news cycles
- Lead a team of story desk editors
- Maximize audience insights to aid in content choices and improve audience reach
- Ensure competitive, engaging and impactful content for all platforms, including digital platforms: website, mobile app and streaming
- Plan digital coverage of stories that matter most to the community, using editorial judgment and social listening
- With the Story Desk Editors, provide editorial support for MSJs, producers and photojournalists, including reviewing scripts, videos and content for accuracy, grammar, AP style, digital best practices, fairness and ethical considerations
- Lead and communicate digital newsroom coverage during breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency and balance
- Uphold TEGNA’s journalistic standards and values across all platforms
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or at least 5 years of journalism experience in a local newsroom, digital production, or related role
- Superior news judgment and the ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions under pressure
- Proven record of success handling breaking news
- Experience managing a team of journalists
- Demonstrated knowledge regarding content desk operations
- Experience using data tools (e.g. Google Data Studio, Tableau, Amplitude) and analyzing trends to inform strategy decisions
- Experience helping transform and manage news-gathering systems
- Impeccable organizational skills with a keen eye for detail
- Demonstrated success as both a team leader and a team player
- Effective communication skills
- Familiarity with the market, a plus
Why TEGNA
TEGNA is reimagining local journalism for the newsroom of the future. With 64 stations across 51 markets, we deliver trusted, fact-based news that informs, engages, and empowers communities. Our values Demand the Truth, Work Smarter, Debate Fearlessly, Listen Carefully, and Zero-Base Every Process guide everything we do.
By joining KUSA, you will be part of a company that demands the truth, works smarter, and tells impactful stories that serve our communities every day.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROVIDED
APPLY BY: July 4, 2026
Salary: $85,000 - $99,000
TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.
Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre-tax basis to TEGNA’s 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.
Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.
TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per year.
* Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.
EEO statement:
TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. We value and consider applications from all qualified candidates without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. TEGNA will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email [email protected]
Recruiting Fraud Alert:
To all candidates: your personal information and online safety are important to us. Only TEGNA Recruiters or Hiring Managers will reach out to you regarding consideration of your application or background. Communications with TEGNA employees will either come from a TEGNA email address with a domain of tegna.com or one of our affiliate station domains.
Recruiters or Hiring Managers will never request payments, ask for financial account information or sensitive information such as social security numbers.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or at least 5 years of journalism experience in a local newsroom or related role
- Superior news judgment and ability to make fast, sound editorial decisions under pressure
- Proven record of success handling breaking news
- Experience managing a team of journalists
- Demonstrated knowledge regarding content desk operations
- Experience using data tools (e.g., Google Data Studio, Tableau, Amplitude) and analyzing trends to inform strategy
- Experience helping transform and manage news-gathering systems
- Impeccable organizational skills with a keen eye for detail
- Demonstrated success as both a team leader and a team player
- Effective communication skills
- Familiarity with the market
TEGNA Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about TEGNA and has not been reviewed or approved by TEGNA.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision options are complemented by company-supported mental health care and telemedicine, with HSA-eligible plans available. Resources such as Spring Health and Teladoc extend accessible care to employees and families.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with dollar‑for‑dollar match on the first 4% and immediate vesting is offered broadly, including to part‑time and temporary staff. This structure provides straightforward access to retirement savings from day one.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave covers at least six weeks for all parents and 12 weeks at full pay for birth mothers. Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement and fertility benefits support multiple paths to family building.
TEGNA Insights
What We Do
As one of the most geographically diverse broadcasters in the U.S., TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA’s OTT advertising service. Across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, TEGNA's stations have over 31 million social followers. In everything we do, we are driven by our strongly held values and our stated purpose to serve the greater good of our communities. TEGNA produces trusted, impactful and innovative content across platforms. We tell stories that matter, are an advocate for those in need and help bring positive change to our communities. Our award-winning journalists have been recognized with numerous national honors including Edward R. Murrow, Alfred I. duPont, George Foster Peabody, George Polk, Walter Cronkite and Emmy awards.
