Assignment Desk Editor & Producer

About the role

TelevisaUnivision Austin and Antonio is looking for a dynamic, competitive and creative Assignment Editor/Producer to join our Austin and San Antonio newsrooms. This role is central to shaping our daily news coverage.

The Assignment Editor/Producer is responsible for identifying and developing high-impact stories, managing day-to-day coverage and field logistics, helping lead editorial decisions, and producing compelling newscasts across platforms. The ideal candidate has a strong sense of journalistic urgency and can quickly recognize the stories that matter most to our communities and have the greatest potential to drive audience interest.

This person must know how to aggressively advance those stories, deploy resources strategically, anticipate what is needed to meet deadline and continuously look for ways to make our coverage stronger and more competitive. This role requires someone who brings a competitive mindset and strong editorial leadership to the newsroom.

The Assignment Editor/Producer should come to editorial meetings informed and prepared to help establish the direction of the news day, while fostering creative discussion that strengthens story angles and differentiates our coverage from competitors.

The ideal candidate must also clearly communicate the editorial vision and priorities to reporters, photographers, producers and other newsroom teams while remaining collaborative and open to ideas that may strengthen or change the original coverage plan. Strong visual storytelling is also essential.

This person should consistently look for creative ways to showcase stories, strengthen newscast presentation and make our journalism more engaging across broadcast, digital and social platforms.

The Assignment Editor/Producer will source and verify content through traditional reporting methods, community contacts, scanners, newsroom feeds and social media platforms; coordinate breaking news and planned coverage; field produce when necessary; and perform other duties as directed by News Management. YOUR DAY-DAY: Identify, research, develop, write and produce stories for broadcast and digital platforms.

Demonstrate strong journalistic urgency, quickly recognizing high-impact and audience-relevant stories and ensuring they are aggressively pursued and advanced before deadline. Help lead editorial meetings by coming prepared and informed, establishing priorities and helping define the direction of the news day and upcoming newscasts.

Drive creative editorial conversations that identify stronger angles, unanswered questions, follow-ups and opportunities to distinguish our coverage from competitors. Clearly communicate editorial priorities, coverage goals and expectations to reporters, photographers, producers and other newsroom teams.

Remain flexible during the editorial process and adjust coverage plans when new information or team discussion identifies a stronger direction. Maintain strong competitive awareness, monitoring other news organizations and identifying opportunities to advance stories beyond what competitors are reporting.

Assign stories and provide crews with the information, contacts, context and expectations necessary to successfully execute coverage. Monitor scanners, newsroom feeds, wire services, social media and other breaking-news sources to quickly identify developing stories and determine when immediate newsroom action is needed.

Monitor breaking news and understand how local, state and federal agencies communicate information across traditional and digital platforms. Make timely decisions regarding deployment of crews and newsroom resources as stories develop. Coordinate interviews, breaking-news logistics, future coverage and priority events.

Maintain constant and clear communication with producers, field crews, newsroom managers and outside agencies while obtaining and confirming information. Line produce newscasts as assigned. Use strong visual creativity to showcase stories through video, graphics, live elements, sound, reporter involvement and other production tools.

Contribute to story placement, teases, graphics, writing, timing and other editorial and production elements. Work closely with reporters to conceptualize, develop and strengthen story packages while ensuring they meet station standards and editorial expectations. Source, verify and develop potential stories from social media and digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, Reddit and emerging platforms.

Serve as a bridge between the newsroom and digital team, ensuring timely communication of developing stories, confirmed information, key elements and available content to support digital coverage across platforms. Engage with viewers and community sources to identify potential stories and develop newsroom contacts. Capture incoming video feeds and assist with newsroom coordination and troubleshooting when necessary.

Plan ahead for developing stories and future coverage while maintaining awareness of immediate newsroom priorities. Perform other duties as assigned. YOU HAVE: Strong news judgment and the ability to quickly identify which stories deserve priority, resources and aggressive follow-up. A demonstrated sense of journalistic urgency and ability to manage breaking news and multiple deadlines simultaneously.

A competitive mindset and desire to advance stories, develop distinctive angles and strengthen coverage beyond what competitors are reporting. Strong editorial leadership skills and the confidence to help lead a newsroom through a developing news day. Ability to lead productive editorial meetings, communicate a clear vision and encourage collaborative discussion and creative thinking.

Strong visual storytelling instincts and the ability to identify creative ways to showcase content within a newscast. Strong written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish. High ethical and journalistic standards. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to make decisions quickly and calmly in a fast-paced newsroom environment. Ability to receive feedback, adapt and continuously improve.

Ability to work collaboratively with reporters, photographers, producers, anchors, digital teams and newsroom leadership. Strong understanding of the Hispanic community and the issues, interests and stories that affect our audience. Ability to identify, verify and develop strong content originating from social media and digital sources.

Experience monitoring scanners, newsroom feeds, wire services and other breaking-news sources, with the ability to recognize developing stories and act with urgency. Proficiency with newsroom computer systems and software, including iNews, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Familiarity with video systems, incoming news feeds and non-linear editing tools.

Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, overnights, weekends and holidays. DESIRED SKILL & EXPERIENCE: BA/BS in Journalism, Mass Communications or related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience. Minimum two years of newsroom experience as a producer, assignment editor or similar editorial role, preferably in a medium-to-large market.

Proven ability to develop and execute compelling newscasts and showcase major stories. Experience helping lead editorial discussions and coordinating daily newsroom coverage. Proven ability to identify and advance breaking, developing and enterprise stories. Strong understanding of digital and social media strategies and audience behavior.

Demonstrated ability to work across broadcast and digital teams to ensure important information and content move quickly between platforms. Strong communication, organizational and leadership skills. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to stand, walk, bend, type, edit, reach and sit for up to (8) hours OUR BENEFITS: TelevisaUnivision believes that a happy, well-balanced employee is what makes our culture thrive.

We offer a wide selection of perks and benefits including PTO; tuition reimbursement; wellness and employee support programs; 401K; and life and other insurance plans. This is all in addition to our comprehensive and competitive health benefits package featuring medical, dental and vision coverage options.