Summary of Position

The Multiplatform Producer-Homepage specializes in programming content for the Newsday.com homepage and other digital platforms. The role requires strong news judgment, advanced headline-writing skills and the ability to take appropriate action on metrics data. Homepage producers will be key partners in collaborative projects between Editorial/Product/Web Development teams.  

Reports To

Hub Senior Digital Editor

Essential Duties & Functions

Oversee the homepage of Newsday.com, section fronts and our mobile platform. This includes:

• Place local news and enterprise stories on the page, utilizing news judgment, metrics and feedback from supervisors to create a compelling, comprehensive report that reflects Newsday’s journalism standards.
• Work with news, photo and video editors to help get their content online and troubleshoot problems with traditional posts and alternative storytelling.
• Constantly monitor the page to improve headlines and teasers for readability/accuracy/sense, improve photo crops with homepage view in mind and ensure that content is up-to-date.
• Look for technical/UX glitches and typographical errors. Check ledes, cutlines and graphic elements to ensure there are no misspellings or inaccurate descriptions and that Newsday digital style is followed. Run and troubleshoot live videos and other items with motion attached, links, etc., that go up on the homepage.
• Monitor Parse.ly to see which stories are performing well and adjust story play and headlines accordingly, using good editorial judgment and awareness of Newsday’s brand. Alert assigning editors to particularly well-performing content so they can consider ways to update or supplement that coverage.
• Stay up-to-date with topline findings on Metrics for News and metrics reports to help inform decision-making. As needed, analyze data to identify trends and share actionable insights with newsroom editors and reporters to help grow and diversify Newsday’s audience.
• Monitor Parse.ly dashboard for ups/downs on top 25 stories of the day. Systematically click into each during a work shift to assess the breakdown of where traffic is coming from. Below-average performance can signal an SEO headline or top image change is needed, something hasn’t hit yet on social or we missed an opportunity to alert/newsletter a package that is doing well via search/social.
• Look for related media and attach. Work with content editors to ensure proper placement/addition of internal links to story text, where relevant, such as previous coverage, with the goal of improving recirculation on the site.
• Assist with alternative storytelling, embedding photos, videos, graphics and animations and using widgets as needed for other features.
• As time allows, check evergreen content, especially those that are popular or timely, to ensure they are working properly and flag problems as they are discovered.
• Keep track of competitors’ content and alert Hub editors to relevant content.
• Stay on top of key wire stories and quickly post and alert breaking news, in collaboration with Hub editors.
• Check stories and fix homepages, categories, community tags. Follow up with editors to improve these items on the front end.
• Other special projects as needed.

Help promote Newsday’s content. This includes:

• Write push and email alerts for high-interest stories over several segments, including local community alerts. Work with supervisors and desk editors to execute.
• Compile the Morning or Afternoon Update newsletter to promote a wide range of Newsday content.
• Assist with social media posts. Alert social team of breaking news.

Essential Job Knowledge & Skills

• Understanding of journalism ethics, standards and AP style.
• Expertise or familiarity with standard metrics and SEO programs such as Parse.ly, Metrics for News and Adobe. Advanced Excel/spreadsheet management skills is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to shape journalistically sound insights from raw metrics data.
• Collaborative mindset focused on building a rapport with others on a cross-functional team.
• Willingness to multi-task on quick-turnaround assignments and long-term projects, pivoting as the team’s priorities shift.
• Ability to work a flexible and varied schedule to include weekends, nights and holidays.

Physical Requirements

• This position is hybrid with a three day per week in office requirement.

Compensation

• The hourly base rate range for this role is $27.51 - $39.23 , commensurate with experience.
• This position is represented by the Graphics Communication Conference, PPPWU

Newsday Media Group is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants and incumbents are selected, placed, trained, compensated and promoted without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, or disability or other classifications protected by applicable law.  In addition, Newsday Media Group provides a reasonable accommodation for applicants/incumbents with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources if you require a reasonable accommodation.