Desk Assistants - Broadcast
Broadcast desk assistants duration: six months terms: January - July / July -
January
The Desk Assistant (DA) position is part of a six-month entry-level
program aimed at providing practical experience in a broadcast news setting. The
DAs are exposed to all aspects involved in producing a nightly television news
program. This position is divided into rotations among the different units that
compose the NewsHour. The DAs also act as support staff for Senior Producers,
Associate Producers and Reporters and Production Assistants.
| NEWSDESK | Newsdesk
DAs are primarily responsible for providing general coverage in the newsroom,
logging news feeds, answering phones, distributing faxes, photocopying and assisting
in daily script production. | | RESEARCH | The
Research DAs are responsible for daily clip files and for preparing research files
for anchors that will be used in segments and discussions. Most often, research
files are for that evening's show. Additional research duties include fact-checking,
compiling viewer mail, recycling beta tapes and backtiming the program. |
WIRES
| The
Wires DA is responsible for culling wire stories for the newsdesk, preparing files
of news wires for the anchor, fact-checking stories and backing up newsdesk DAs.
| | SETUP UNIT | The
Setup DA is responsible for footage research and acquisition; dubbing video tapes
onto audio for transcription; screening and logging tapes, domestic and international
feeds; re-shelving tapes; and providing additional assistance in the edit and
tape rooms. | | EDITORIAL | The
Editorial DA is responsible for assisting Senior Producers and Reporters; researching
for correspondents; answering phones; coordinating guests' travel arrangements
and assisting in the newsroom as needed. | DAs may be assigned
additional special duties, as required.APPLICATION DEADLINE
May 1, 2009
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree is required, along with good
writing and research skills, good administrative skills, a pleasant phone manner
and efficient work habits. CONTACT
You can download an application as a Microsoft
Word document. You may also request an application by
contacting the NewsHour's desk assistant coordinator either
by sending an e-mail to lknapp@newshour.org,
calling 703.998.2150 or sending a letter to:
Lauren Knapp
Desk Assistant Coordinator
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
3620 S. 27th Street
Arlington, VA 22206
EOE |
