November 14, 2024

The Needham Channel

Your Town…Your Neighbors…Your Television!

Now Hiring!

October 2024

The Needham Channel is looking to fill a full-time sports producer position! Whether you are just getting started in the industry or have had experience and are seeking a local opportunity, we may have just the job you are looking for. The available spot is for a Community Media Producer, who will, in addition to the typical video recording of full game coverage, also write, edit and report stories for our weekly live “Needham Channel News” program and Needham Local.

For any questions or to submit a resume and cover letter, email Mike Levin at: mlevin@needhamchannel.org.

The full job posting is below:

Community Media Producer – Sports

Job Purpose: This sports-focused producer position will be responsible for all aspects of local sports coverage for The Needham Channel, the Needham Channel News and Needham Local. Founded on creating an active and engaged sports community, the producer will work in coordination with other Needham Channel staff and volunteers. They will coordinate game coverage of high school-level sports, lead the crew through the video production process, and participate in social media coverage and campaigns. They will report on the Needham sports scene across platforms, including online reporting, television news segment production and game updates through social media.

Description: Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Field Production:
  • Engage with the town through television coverage of meetings, events and the local issues of community interest. Stories would be produced for consumption over many venues including the studio newscast, website and social media. Stories should be visually engaging, informative and feature interviews with local residents, businesses and newsmakers
  • Assist in the production of the Needham Channel News under the direction of the public affairs director, including such duties as camerawork, editing, segment producing, volunteer training, research, pre-production, audio engineering, teleprompter operation, graphics design and other tasks

Studio Operations:
  • Research, plan and coordinate crew and equipment resources to produce television coverage of 2-3 full-length varsity high school games each week over the course of the three annual sports seasons, with an eye toward creating a wide spectrum of coverage that is entertaining and representative of the town of Needham.
  • Set-up and independently operate camera equipment for coverage of games and events.
  • Recruit and train volunteers to fill roles on productions such as play-by-play announcer, color commentary, stats reporting, camera operation (game and ancillary videography) and scoreboard management.
  • Post regular updates of games to social media such as Instagram, Facebook and X.
  • Coordinate with and interview coaches and athletes to produce profiles and other content for use on the Needham Channel News, Needham Local and online, including for teams which do not lend themselves to full game/meet coverage and for use outside of the regular sports season.
  • Provide coverage of post-season tournaments and club sports, as necessary.
  • Coordinate with access centers in other communities for joint coverage, as mutually desired.
  • Assist staff members and volunteer producers with the production of non-sports related programming as assigned by the programming manager.

Administrative:
  • Serve as an ambassador for all sports production services at the Needham Channel and Needham Local to the community.
  • Develop relationships with coaches and athletic directors for Needham teams and their opponents.
  • Maintain an active list of volunteer announcers and crew members for sports productions in coordination with the Needham Channel Programming Manager and Executive Director.
  • Assist in the scheduling of studio resources and document usage.
  • Assist in the maintenance and development of the Needham Channel’s social media presence on YouTube, X, Instagram and Facebook among other sites.


What We Are Looking For:
  • A strong understanding and love of sports at every level and familiarity with high school athletics.
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and procedures.
  • Experience with all aspects of video production and editing.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, active work environment.
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to lead in a social workspace.
  • Flexibility of Schedule to accommodate sports schedules and production timelines.


Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Communications or related field
  • Driver’s License and reliable transportation
  • Ability to lift 20-30 lbs. of production equipment

Job Type: Full-time, Salaried
Benefits: Health Insurance • Dental insurance • Retirement Plan • Paid Time Off • Flexible schedule
Salary Range: $32,500 – $37,500 Typical Schedule: 8 hour shift • 5-day work week • Some holiday shifts • Some weekend shifts
Education: Bachelor’s (Preferred)
Experience: 1 year Sports Broadcasting or Television Production (Preferred)
License/Certification: Driver’s License
Work Location: Multiple Locations

About the Needham Channel and Needham Local: The Needham Channel is a public access television station located in Needham, Massachusetts, operated by the Needham Community Television Development Corporation (NCTDC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Since 1984, the Needham Channel has served to educate residents of town in television production and inform them of the events and happenings that affect them most. To further that effort, the NCTDC launched the Needham Channel News in 1987. Needham Local was in 2023, to serve as a new online portal for news, sports and events.

The NCTDC is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to Mike Levin at: mlevin@needhamchannel.org.