Social Video Producer, Temporary

ProPublica

Job Description
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force. We dig deep into important issues, shining a light on abuses of power and betrayals of public trust — and we stick with those issues as long as it takes to hold power to account.

Short‑form video is how many people receive news, so we are expanding our social video team with a two‑year temporary social video producer. This role will translate our long‑form journalism into short‑form, video‑first content for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and other social platforms. The videos will serve as stand‑alone editorial products and traffic drivers to our stories.

We are looking for someone who understands platform trends and can create vertical, short‑form social videos, while working with journalists and editors to bring investigative findings to new audiences. This role will uphold the standard and tone of our social video content and expand our reach.

This temporary two‑year role reports to our social video editor and sits within the larger ProPublica audience team.

Responsibilities

Create video content grounded in ethical journalistic principles, standards, and practices, and use editorial judgment to translate stories with sensitivity, care, and appropriate tone.

Collaborate with reporters, editors, visual editors, audience team members, and other staff to identify and produce compelling video storytelling.

Own the creative and technical production for videos from start to finish, including writing and editing scripts, gathering visual assets, designing still and motion graphics, and writing social post captions.

Serve as the on‑screen narrator/host for videos, maintaining a voice and approach appropriate for ProPublica’s brand.

Shoot and edit video in studio, remotely, and in the field, ensuring high‑quality production values.

Identify and edit media clips for video podcasts, live events, media appearances, and adapt them into optimized formats for social platforms.

Manage multiple projects in various stages of production, sometimes meeting tight deadlines.

Monitor the editorial calendar and pitch ideas for social video content and packages.

Define and maintain workflow processes and systems to ensure consistent production of video content.

Track monthly video analytics reports to inform future optimization and strategy.

Track evolving trends on video platforms and share insights with the team.

About You
We are looking for people who have proven they can use video and design skills for journalistic ends. The ideal candidate will have many of these skills:

Three or more years of video journalism, content production, or video editing experience.

Fluency in telling stories for social platforms with text on screen, voice‑overs, direct‑to‑camera or other methods.

Strong understanding of algorithmic trends and platform optimization strategies, including expertise in crafting effective video titles, thumbnails, descriptions, and metadata to maximize reach and engagement.

Experience conducting on‑camera interviews and directing video subjects in person and remotely.

Proficiency in media production software (Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, CapCut, Photoshop, Figma).

Strong writing and editing skills.

Ability to communicate social storytelling ideas through scripts or storyboards and advocate for projects with social potential across the newsroom.

Experience with project management software such as Trello, Airtable, or Notion.

Collaborative mindset, stellar communication skills, and ability to manage several projects simultaneously; staying organized, focused, and meeting deadlines.

Ability to travel, as needed, for assignments, training, and staff meetings.

Desirable Skills

Experience using a digital asset management system such as WoodWing.

Knowledge of media rights and clearances, with a working knowledge of copyright permissions.

Experience in a newsroom or media organization.

Location & Benefits
This job is full time and includes benefits. ProPublica is based in New York, but we’re open to remote candidates in the U.S. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Salary
The expected salary range for this position is $90,000 to $105,000. This is a good‑faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position; the final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment, and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.

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