Story Desk Manager
- Location
- Houston, TX · On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Lead / Staff
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 31 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- breaking news coverage
- newsroom editorial judgment
- AP style
- digital news production
Also useful
- newsroom workflow transformation
Stated benefits & perks
- Health
- Dental
- 401k match
- Life insurance
- Disability
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.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily coverage decisions and reporter assignments 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 regular story check-ins throughout the day
- 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 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 newsroom coverage during breaking news, ensuring accuracy, urgency and balance
- Uphold TEGNA's journalistic standards and values across all platforms
What You'll Bring
- 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 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
Benefits
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.
About TEGNA
TEGNA
Inc. 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.
KHOU, the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate in Houston, Texas, 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'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.
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 [Call Letters], you will be part of a company that demands the truth, works smarter, and tells impactful stories that serve our communities every day.
Equal opportunity and legal notices
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
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.
SMS Messaging Privacy Policy
From TEGNA's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this Story Desk Manager role at TEGNA, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
Openings from employer career sites are ranked against your whole resume—and searchable inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor via Rolev.ai MCP.
Tailor without inventing
Every change to your resume is checked against your original. New experience goes in only with your yes—zero fabricated claims.
Draft the full kit
Tailored and Full Match resumes, role-specific cover letters, and answers to employer screening questions are prepared in seconds.
1-Click Extension Autofill
The Chrome extension fills the employer's Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or Ashby form in 1 click. You review it and press Submit.
Common questions
Where is the Story Desk Manager job at TEGNA located?
This Story Desk Manager position at TEGNA is located in Houston, TX (On-site). Always check TEGNA's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Story Desk Manager at TEGNA?
For the Story Desk Manager role, TEGNA highlights 5+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with breaking news coverage, newsroom editorial judgment, AP style, digital news production. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Story Desk Manager position at TEGNA?
This listing links directly to TEGNA's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on TEGNA's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.