Senior Audience Producer
Hearst · Norwalk, Connecticut, United States · hybrid
Senior Audience Producer
Hearst Connecticut Media Group is looking for an innovative, collaborative Senior Audience Producer to help guide ambitious journalism through audience insights, thoughtful optimization and responsible use of AI. Working alongside editors and reporters, this role will help drive engagement, subscriptions and return visits across CT Insider’s digital platforms, newsletters, social media, audio and print.
This is a digital newsroom audience role - not a television or live-news producing position. We are looking for a journalist who understands digital audiences, analytics, content optimization and audience strategy, and who can work closely with reporters and editors to help journalism reach and resonate with more readers.
Senior Audience Producers will embed with key newsroom topic teams, which may include data, state politics, investigations, education, business, real estate, high school sports and UConn sports. This is an opportunity to innovate, experiment and help strengthen the reach and impact of journalism that matters to Connecticut communities.
About the Team
Hearst Connecticut Media Group (HCMG) is a collection of the state’s most important news properties, providing local, watchdog and investigative reporting that impacts communities across Connecticut.
HCMG includes close to 170 journalists working at 10 daily newspapers – Connecticut Post, Greenwich Time, Journal Inquirer, The Middletown Press, The New Haven Register, The News-Times, The Norwalk Hour, Record-Journal, Republican-American and Stamford Advocate – 13 weekly newspapers, Connecticut Magazine and multiple websites.
HCMG expanded further in 2021 with the launch of Connecticut’s No. 1 statewide news source, CTInsider.com, covering everything from sports and politics to breaking news stories and compelling features about Connecticut residents and businesses.
Key Responsibilities
* Collaborate with editors, reporters, photographers and audience team members to ensure journalism engages, retains and converts local readers into subscribers.
* Analyze and interpret audience metrics, translating insights into clear recommendations that inform short- and long-term coverage decisions.
* Optimize journalism across websites, social media, newsletters and search to expand reach and deepen audience engagement.
* Use topic-area knowledge and audience insights to identify story opportunities and develop recurring content series and annual special projects.
* Guide responsible and relevant use of AI and other emerging tools to improve newsroom workflows and audience outcomes.
* Communicate across departments during breaking and planned news events to alert audiences to key developments across platforms.
* Support topic teams in planning and executing audience strategies that encourage return visits and subscriber growth.
* Lead or contribute to livestreams and podcasts that engage and retain audiences, where applicable.
Qualifications
* Strong editorial judgment and experience working in a deadline-driven digital news or journalism environment.
* Demonstrated understanding of digital audience development, engagement and content optimization.
* Ability to optimize stories for websites, social media, newsletters and search.
* Strong comfort with analyzing and interpreting metrics and communicating what the data means.
* Experience editing short- and mid-form video, photos and audio using tools such as Canva, Photoshop or Premiere.
* Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills.
* A quick, organized and technically capable problem solver who consistently meets deadlines.
* Strong organizational and detail-oriented skills, with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
* Flexibility to work nights and weekends for breaking news and special content opportunities.
* Collaborative approach and curiosity about audience behavior, journalism and emerging technology.
Preferred qualifications
* Knowledge of topic area in sports
* Experience planning and running livestreams and podcasts that engage and retain viewers.
* Experience using analytics to shape editorial strategy and coverage decisions.
* Experience developing strategic plans or audience-focused digital initiatives.
Please note: This role is not a television producer, live-news producer or broadcast production position. Candidates whose experience is primarily focused on producing television newscasts, live broadcasts or broadcast control-room operations are not the target profile for this position.
Compensation & Benefits
The reasonable estimate for this role, if hired in Connecticut, is $56,000 - $66,000 base. A final decision on the successful candidate’s starting salary will be based on a number of permissible, non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to skills and experience, training, certifications and education.
We are proud to offer generous health and wellness benefits, competitive paid time off, financial programs like 401k matching and tuition assistance, and additional perks like company matching for charitable donations.
This hybrid position (3 days / week) based in Norwalk, Connecticut, and is not eligible for remote candidates.
Hearst is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.