Social Video Producer

KQED • San Francisco, CA

1d • $79,828 - $99,785 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Social Video Producer is a multimedia journalist responsible for identifying, developing, and producing original vertical video content for KQED’s social and digital platforms. Working within the Newsroom and under the direction of the Manager, Video Content Development, this role will develop stories and repeatable video formats specifically designed for platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and other emerging social platforms supporting KQED’s Food, Guides, and Technology editorial verticals.

The ideal candidate is an experienced journalist and visual storyteller with a strong understanding of social video audiences and the ability to recognize what makes a story compelling in a vertical, mobile-first environment. They will be capable of taking an idea from initial concept through research, reporting, scripting, field production, and delivery to post-production, while working closely with video editors to bring the final story to life.

This role requires strong editorial judgment, journalistic integrity, and the ability to work quickly and creatively in a newsroom environment. The Social Video Producer should be comfortable developing original story ideas, collaborating with reporters and editors, conducting interviews, producing one-person and small-crew shoots, directing talent, and creating production approaches that can be repeated and scaled across KQED’s social video portfolio.

The Social Video Producer will also work closely with Audience Development to understand audience behavior, platform trends, and performance data, applying those insights to story development, format development, and production decisions.
This is a full-time, limited term position reporting to the Manager, Video Content Development.
KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. This will enable us to better serve and reflect the Bay Area through diverse and inclusive storytelling.
We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.
KQED Code of Ethics https://www.kqed.org/about/code-ethics
The mission that drives us:
KQED provide citizens of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st-century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration- exposing them to new people, places and ideas.
This role will work hybrid between working in KQED's newly renovated headquarters and working remotely.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of professional journalism, video production, or multimedia production experience, preferably in a newsroom, digital media organization, public media organization, or comparable environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing and producing original vertical video content for social and digital platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to develop stories and video treatments specifically for mobile-first and social audiences.
• Experience developing repeatable video formats or series designed for social platforms.
• Strong understanding of journalistic principles, ethics, accuracy, fairness, attribution, and editorial standards.
• Strong editorial judgment and demonstrated ability to identify compelling stories and translate them into effective vertical video concepts.
• Proven ability to produce one-person and small-crew video productions.
• Experience shooting high-quality vertical video and recording professional-quality audio in field and fast-turnaround situations.
• Experience directing on-camera talent, reporters, hosts, and interview subjects.
• Strong understanding of social video storytelling, including hooks, pacing, visual storytelling, audience retention, and platform-specific formats.
• Demonstrated understanding of the differences between creating video for traditional media and creating video specifically for social platforms.
• Ability to use audience performance data and platform insights to inform editorial and production decisions.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively to breaking news and time-sensitive editorial opportunities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a public media newsroom or mission-driven journalism organization.
• Experience covering the Bay Area and familiarity with Northern California communities and issues.
• Experience producing journalism specifically for younger or hard-to-reach digital audiences.
• Experience working with content management systems, digital asset management systems, and social publishing tools.
• Experience with a variety of professional cameras, lenses, lighting, and audio equipment.
• B.A./B.S. degree in journalism, communications, film, media production, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and produce original vertical video stories specifically designed for social and digital platforms.
• Develop and produce repeatable and scalable vertical video formats that take advantage of the unique storytelling formats, consumption habits, and creative tools of platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
• Produce one-person and small-crew vertical video productions, managing production logistics, equipment, locations, schedules, and permissions as needed.
• Direct on-camera talent, hosts, reporters, and interview subjects to achieve effective and authentic performances for vertical video.
• Engage with newsroom reporters, editors, and subject matter experts to identify reporting and stories that can be developed into original vertical video.
• Shoot high-quality vertical video and record professional-quality audio in the field and in controlled production environments, as needed.
• Develop production workflows and approaches that allow successful vertical video formats to be efficiently repeated and scaled.
• Ensure all video production and editorial work adheres to KQED editorial standards, journalistic ethics, accuracy and fairness standards, legal requirements, and public media guidelines.
• Research and obtain third-party video, photography, music, and other materials as needed, ensuring appropriate rights and permissions.
• Prepare scripts, production notes, shot lists, interview questions, and other materials needed for post-production and publishing.
• Work closely with Digital Video Editors to communicate editorial intent, provide scripts and production materials, review edits, and provide creative and editorial feedback throughout post-production.
• Work with Audience Development to identify audience opportunities, understand platform behavior, and use performance insights to inform story development and repeatable format strategies.
• Monitor social video trends, emerging formats, platform developments, and audience behavior to identify opportunities for KQED journalism.
• Collaborate with Digital Video and Audience Development to develop effective approaches to packaging, presenting, and distributing vertical video across social platforms.
• Participate in editorial planning and pitch meetings, contributing original ideas for social video and opportunities to extend KQED reporting to new audiences.
• Collaborate with Audience Development on social publishing strategy, content optimization, and performance analysis.
• Represent KQED professionally when reporting in the community and working with sources, subjects, community organizations, and external partners.
• Meet production and publishing deadlines while managing multiple assignments and responding to breaking or time-sensitive news opportunities.
• Participate in newsroom and cross-departmental initiatives that advance KQED’s digital video and audience strategy.
• Perform other video, journalistic, and organizational duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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