Community Connections Coordinator, WEWS

The E.W. Scripps Company • Cleveland, OH

7d • Onsite

About The Position

WEWS, The E.W. Scripps Company ABC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio, is hiring a Community Connections Coordinator to connect the newsroom with the communities it serves. The coordinator cultivates relationships, identifies credible story leads, coordinates community events and listening sessions, and helps journalists connect with trusted local voices. The role involves work in the community, managing audience tips, and supporting breaking and developing news coverage.

The coordinator builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, residents, leaders, and sources; monitors and routes audience tips and questions; supports newsroom listening and source development; coordinates outreach and station appearances; and manages logistics for community conversations, public programs, newsroom events, and special coverage initiatives. The position also tracks community insights and engagement outcomes and prepares reports to inform newsroom and community engagement priorities.

The role is based in Cleveland, Ohio. The posted annual salary range for candidates performing the work in Ohio is $60,000 to $70,000. Applications received by November 4 receive priority consideration; applications received later may continue to be reviewed as needed.

Requirements

• Associate degree in a related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred.
• Generally, 5+ years of experience in journalism, communications, community engagement, nonprofit work, events, public relations, or related fields.
• Strong listening, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to establish rapport with diverse community members and organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.
• Ability to identify and communicate relevant community information quickly and accurately.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with journalists and station teams.
• Comfort working independently in the community and adapting to newsroom needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM/contact systems, social platforms, and collaboration tools.
• Solid news judgment; comfort with newsroom urgency; ability to verify and relay information quickly; and understanding of how community tips can develop into stories.
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately across digital platforms, maintain professionalism in public-facing conversations, and collaborate closely with reporters, producers, anchors, meteorologists, and newsroom leaders.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, residents, leaders, and trusted sources to gather insights and identify emerging issues, events, and story opportunities.
• Monitor, track, and route audience tips, questions, and leads from community channels, ensuring timely communication and escalation to newsroom teams.
• Connect journalists with credible and diverse community voices to support newsroom listening, community conversations, and source development.
• Support breaking and developing news coverage by gathering community context, maintaining source networks, and providing timely information to newsroom staff.
• Serve as a point of contact for community organizations and residents, fostering positive relationships and trust.
• Coordinate outreach, maintain partner and contact records, and represent the station at community meetings, events, and activities.
• Support newsroom talent by coordinating interviews, identifying community contacts, gathering background information, and facilitating community appearances.
• Coordinate logistics and execution for community conversations, listening sessions, public programs, newsroom events, special coverage initiatives, and station appearances.
• Manage event outreach, scheduling, partner coordination, participant communications, on-site support, and post-event follow-up.
• Support audience engagement across digital and in-person channels, including live discussions, community groups, and neighborhood platforms.
• Maintain community calendars, project plans, contact databases, and engagement records to support execution of the market community strategy.
• Track community insights, engagement outcomes, story leads, and best practices, and prepare summaries and reports to inform newsroom and community engagement priorities.

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision benefits, as well as certain other health and wellness benefits.
• Retirement savings plan with company match.
• Disability accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness insurance, life insurance, AD&D, ID protection, pet discount program, and employee assistance program.
• Career path to grow professional experiences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree