SVP, Video Editorial

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role

We are CNN. The world’s most essential and engaging source of digital news. We are in the midst of rapid transformation and need our next generation of innovators, makers, and dreamers who will lead and drive our growth. We aim to make the world a better, more connected place.

CNN is looking for an SVP of Video Editorial to lead and innovate CNN’s video storytelling strategy and drive the creation of engaging, high-impact video content across linear, digital, and mobile platforms. Reporting to CNN’s Executive Editor of Editorial and with deep partnership with the EVP, of CNN’s Digital Product and Insights, this role is essential in shaping how CNN reaches audiences with compelling video stories that are distinctive, timely, and tailored for an evolving media landscape.

This role will oversee a team producing original videos, remixing and editing existing footage, and be responsible for optimizing video assets from the outset of a story to engage audiences wherever they interact with our news and coverage.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Video Storytelling Innovation

• Pioneer New Storytelling Techniques: Develop and implement innovative approaches to video storytelling that resonate with audiences across platforms, prioritizing creative, impactful video and narratives.
• Develop & Oversee Training Playbooks: Oversee the creation of training playbooks that can be utilized across functional teams that are shooting, producing, and editing videos to ensure all video experts are aligned on standard best practices, expectations, and evolving editorial needs/priorities. Continually update and iterate on these protocols and playbooks to create consistent alignment across video practitioners.
• Platform-Optimized Storytelling: Ensure all video content is tailored for optimal performance on each platform, maximizing engagement and reach while adhering to platform-specific best practices.
• Cross-Platform Video Strategy: Collaborate with editorial teams and video creation teams to align video storytelling with broader newsroom goals, ensuring stories are presented in cohesive and engaging formats across multiple channels.

2. Oversight of Original Video Production

• Video Creation: Lead the creation of original videos from ideation through to final production, including reporting, interviews, and live coverage. Partner with the leadership across planning, editorial, and field deployment teams to ensure production teams understand video needs, best practices, and priorities for stories as assignments are made for daily coverage.
• Show Clipping and Remixing: Oversee clipping from live broadcasts and shows for use in linear and non-linear formats, and remix existing video footage to extend the reach and relevance of stories.
• Optimized Video Assets for Digital Stories: Proactively plan for and develop video assets in tandem with text, photo, and data teams, ensuring that video is considered as a core storytelling element from the inception of a story.

3. Operational Excellence and Team Management

• Efficiency in Video Production: Streamline video production workflows, maximizing team efficiency while maintaining the highest editorial standards.
• Audience-Driven Video Strategy: Utilize audience analytics to guide video production, continuously refining formats and styles based on viewer feedback and engagement metrics.
• Team Development: Manage and mentor a team of video journalists, editors, and producers, fostering a collaborative, creative environment and encouraging professional growth.

4. Collaboration and Cross-Functional Engagement

• Editorial Alignment: Partner with CNN’s Executive Editor and senior leaders to align video initiatives with editorial priorities and news cycles.
• Digital Product Teams: Work closely with digital product, social, and platform teams to enhance video discoverability, engagement, and usability across digital products.
• Audience Engagement: Collaborate with audience strategy and insights teams to understand viewer behaviors and preferences, applying this knowledge to continuously evolve video storytelling techniques.

5. Quality Assurance and Brand Standards

• Editorial Quality Control: Uphold the CNN’s editorial standards, ensuring all video content is accurate, credible, and in line with CNN’s journalistic values.
• Visual and Brand Consistency: Ensure consistency in visual style and tone, enhancing the brand’s identity and maintaining a distinctive look and feel across all video content.

Qualifications:

• Experience: 10+ years in video journalism, digital video production, or editorial roles within a newsroom, with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity.
• Expertise in Multiplatform Storytelling: Demonstrated expertise in creating video for a multiplatform audience, with a portfolio showcasing innovative storytelling.
• Technical Knowledge: Proficient in video editing software, production techniques, and best practices for mobile-first video production.
• Analytical Skills: Experience with audience analytics tools to inform content strategy and video optimizations.
• Leadership Abilities: Proven experience managing and inspiring creative teams, with strong organizational and project management skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Audience Insights: Knowledge of audience, social media, and digital trends, including experience using viewer insights to guide content creation.
• Creative Visionary: A proactive approach to exploring and applying new technologies, formats, and storytelling techniques to elevate the newsroom’s video output.

This is a unique opportunity for an innovative leader in video journalism to shape how CNN tells its stories across platforms, engaging audiences in new and powerful ways.

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

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 require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $350,000.00 – $650,000.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

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