Production Assistant, Special Events

Job Description

Every great story has a new beginning. We're excited to announce that Discovery and WarnerMedia have combined to become Warner Bros. Discovery. WBD is a premier global media and entertainment company offering audiences the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film, sports, news, streaming and gaming. We're home to the world's best storytellers, creating world-class products for consumers. From brilliant creatives to technology trailblazers and beyond, join us as we step into the next chapter.

The Job

We are the department that produces the network's biggest editorial events as well as many smaller ones. From debates, town halls, and election nights, to overseas Presidential trips, funerals, and the royal wedding, we've produced them all. Before all the pomp and circumstance audiences see on TV, we are the planners, the location scouts, the production & logistics experts, the carpet vacuum-ers, the list makers, the transportation schedulers and then we help execute the coverage on site.

We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, whose attention to detail is beyond the norm, who thrives in a team environment and wants to do the day-to-day operational work it takes to put on a CNN special event.

The Production Assistant position is entry-level and provides the opportunity to work with many news teams across CNN as well as involvement in planning efforts from beginning to end.

The role provides support to producers, unit managers and VP, assists with research, planning and execution of Special Events coverage. Support includes, but is not limited to, editorial research and input for coverage, feeds coordination, live event coverage, graphics knowledge, event staffing lists and on-site support as needed for production or unit managers. This person must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and the willingness to do organizational work that is vital to the success of our event.

The Daily
• The PA's daily schedule constantly evolves - one minute you might be doing research for a presidential trip, finding and sharing relevant news clips, the next minute you are doing virtual event site research and booking travel for a last-minute town hall.
• Handles feeds coordination, locates and desk edits material and makes timely updates to documents including world leader Facebook during overseas presidential trips.
• Listens to the daily editorial calls and shares relevant updates with the Special Events team.
• Handles Special Events archives by managing the SharePoint site and uploading relevant documents.
• Daily administrative support for Special Events producers and VP may include research for event or locations/maps of venues, visa preparation, contacting vendors, and keeping personnel lists.
• Develops understanding of the U. S. Network Pool. Monitors planning calls, understand coverage responsibilities, logistics, production & budgets.
• Keeps obituary kits current with relevant clips of VIPs such as former Presidents.
• Participates in breaking news when required on the newsgathering desks or in control rooms as well as anything Special Events team may need done.
• Become knowledgeable about credential requirements, database, and White House forms.

The Essentials
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism or related discipline or equivalent in experience.
• Experience working in the news environment is beneficial to this role.
• Working knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word, Mediasource, Mira, iNews, SharePoint and ShowManager.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Must be able to multitask, highly organized and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to think broadly – see the ''big picture'' – but also focuses on the little pictures – tasks and details are absolutely necessary for success.
• Ability to work with various units across the network with many different contributions to events across production, editorial, technical and heavy logistics.
• Strong news judgment, critical thinking, problem solver, organization skills, and an ability to be persistent in follow up yet diplomatic.
• Understanding of newsgathering and social media; top notch research skills
• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships; values the diversity of people, programming, and perspectives.
• Ability to work in fast paced 24/7 breaking news environment and flexibility with personal schedule depending on event planning needs.
• Must be available to travel and willing to work overnights, weekends, & holidays.
• Interest in politics and Washington and International news is helpful.
• This position is required to work in person at one of our locations in the United States. Warner Bros. Discovery requires anyone working in our workplaces in the US to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Exemptions to this vaccine requirement are available to those entitled to reasonable accommodations for religious or medical reasons.

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you need a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for this position, please contact us at recruitadmin@warnermedia.com.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d92nv4-3-140-185-123-42 in your application.