Digital News Producer, Chron
Hearst · Houston
Role Overview
Are you a fast, digitally savvy journalist who thrives at the intersection of breaking news and audience growth? Join Chron’s audience team and help shape how our stories reach and engage readers across Houston and Texas.
Chron, a digital-first news publisher, is seeking a Digital News Producer to play a critical role on our audience team, helping drive daily coverage, optimize the site experience, and ensure our journalism reaches the widest possible audience. This is a hybrid role combining audience production and fast-turn news writing.
The ideal candidate has strong news judgment, understands what audiences are searching for and sharing in real time, and can quickly turn around clean, accurate and buzzy stories and video rooted in verification and light additional reporting.
This role is scheduled Sunday–Thursday and will serve as the lead audience producer on Sundays. This person will report to the Deputy Managing Editor of News & Sports, with a dotted line to Chron’s Audience Editor.
What You’ll Do
- Write 2–3 daily quick-turn stories, including breaking news and trending topics, with a focus on speed, accuracy, and strong headlines.
- Shoot and edit timely, highly shareable video that connects with audiences off platform.
- Serve as the lead audience producer on Sundays, helping guide coverage, distribution, and real-time decisions.
- Package and distribute Chron content across social platforms to drive traffic, with a focus on emerging and secondary platforms such as Reddit and Nextdoor.
- Track newsletter cadence and performance, identifying gaps, trends, and opportunities, and regularly sharing insights with the audience manager.
What You’ll Bring
- Minimum 2 years of experience in a digital newsroom as a digital content producer, reporter, or audience producer.
- Strong news judgment, particularly regarding issues that Texans care about, and the ability to prioritize quickly in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to write clean, accurate, and engaging news stories on tight deadlines.
- Experience with breaking news and/or trending content workflows.
- Familiarity with content management systems and digital publishing tools.
- Understanding of audience metrics and tools such as Google Trends, Google Analytics, or Marfeel.
- Solid understanding of AP Style and journalistic standards.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills across newsroom teams.
- Interest in Houston and Texas news and an understanding of what resonates with local audiences.
Additional Information
- Sponsorship: This position does not provide immigration sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the U.S. without immigration sponsorship.
- Accommodations: We are committed to an accessible application process. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact hnpemployment@hearst.com. This email address is for accommodation requests only.
Benefits
We support our employees through personal and professional development and promote physical, financial and emotional wellbeing for employees and their families. Our benefits include:
- Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental and vision coverage to help keep you and your family healthy.
- Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with a matching program in most markets.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
- Paid Parental Leave: Paid leave to support growing families and new parents.
- Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
- Emotional Wellbeing: Mental wellness benefits to support your emotional wellbeing.
- LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for individual needs.
- Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Support throughout different stages of your health and family journey.
- Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: Support to help keep your pets happy and healthy.
- And more: Learn more about additional benefits and details here.