Chief Photographer

Tegna • Tampa, FL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

WTSP-TV (10 Tampa Bay News), TEGNA’s CBS affiliate in Saint Petersburg, Florida, is seeking a Chief Photographer to lead photojournalists in producing strong visual journalism across broadcast, streaming, digital, and social platforms. This is a hands-on leadership role involving daily and breaking-news shooting and editing as well as scheduling, supervision, coaching, and development of photojournalists and MSJs.

The Chief Photographer sets and maintains visual storytelling standards, manages field equipment and the news fleet, oversees the station’s drone program, and plans staffing and logistics for severe weather and other major events. The role works closely with news managers, the assignment desk, and producers, and participates in the management on-call rotation.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience as a news photojournalist/editor, preferably in a local TV newsroom.
• Advanced skills in shooting, lighting, audio, and nonlinear editing, such as Edius and/or Adobe Premiere.
• Experience operating live newsgathering tools such as LiveU, TVU, or Dejero.
• Strong coaching, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to make quick, sound, and ethical decisions under deadline pressure.
• Flexibility to work any shift, including nights, early mornings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and extended hours during severe weather and breaking news.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds of gear and work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience as a chief photographer, lead photographer, or in a similar leadership role.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, or ability to earn it soon after hire.
• Experience covering hurricanes and severe weather.
• Experience creating content for streaming, digital, and social platforms, including vertical video.
• NPPA recognition.

Responsibilities

• Shoot, edit, and go live on daily news, enterprise, and breaking stories, leading by example in the field.
• Set and maintain visual and storytelling standards for the photojournalism team.
• Coach photojournalists and MSJs on storytelling, lighting, audio, natural sound, composition, and editing through critiques and hands-on training.
• Build and manage photojournalist schedules for newscasts, streaming, and digital needs, including nights, weekends, holidays, and severe weather.
• Supervise photojournalists day to day, including assignments, time and attendance, overtime, and performance.
• Manage field equipment and the news fleet, including inventory, maintenance, repairs, budgeting, and purchase recommendations for cameras, audio, lighting, bonded cellular units, and news vehicles.
• Oversee the station’s drone program with news leadership and TEGNA’s drone team, including FAA compliance and pilot certification.
• Plan crew deployment and logistics for hurricanes, elections, major sporting events, and other large-scale coverage.
• Work with the assignment desk, producers, and managers to match crews to stories.
• Partner with news managers to source, interview, onboard, and train new photojournalists.
• Uphold TEGNA’s ethics, safety, and legal standards in the field.
• Participate in the management on-call rotation.
• Perform other tasks as required by the news leadership team.

Benefits

• Two medical plan options for full- and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
• Dental and eye care coverage.
• Fertility, surrogacy, and adoption assistance.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) plan with employee contributions and a 100% company match on contributions up to the first 4% of pay; matched contributions are 100% vested from day one.
• Nine free virtual doctor’s appointments annually through Teladoc for employees and eligible family members, regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans.
• Twelve free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health for employees and eligible family members.
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Nine paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed