Vertical Video Producer

About the Position

The Vertical Video Producer plays a crucial part of More Perfect Union’s journalism by driving on-the-ground coverage of active fights across the country. They will pitch, conceptualize, research, and script short, news-driven videos that mobilize viewers against corporate power and corruption while empowering the working class. The ideal person for this role is an experienced reporter with strong skills in storytelling, visual journalism, building source relationships, scripting, and pre- and post-production of vertical videos.

The Vertical Video Producer must be immersed in and excited about the process of telling stories through video and creating viral news moments with substance. They must have the technical, narrative, and relational skills to create powerful moments that hook viewers and keep them watching to the end. The position requires a high level of self-sufficiency, strong collaboration and communication skills, the ability to write clearly and meet deadlines, and a desire to engage in key policy debates and grow our audience.

Core Responsibilities

• Pitch, produce, and script short original videos (<3 minutes) for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, that engage and mobilize our viewers around news moments, and that get out into the field to document strikes, union drives, protests, to document strikes, union drives, protests, community uprisings, and other actions that confront power headon and advance MPU’s editorial goals.
• Pitch, research, write and host short, news-driven direct-to-camera videos for vertical video platforms.
• Identify interview subjects, write interview questions and shot lists, draft scripts, record VO or shoot direct to camera, review and provide feedback to editors on videos, including visuals throughout scripts.
• Develop and maintain relationships with sources;
• Participate in meetings and collaborate with other video team members.
• Knowledge of current social platforms and the best practices surrounding these platforms.
• Receive assignments from supervisor and colleagues for prompt action;
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet expected deadlines
• Maintain high standard of work in a nimble, fast paced environment
• Perform other duties as assigned

Experience/Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in journalism/video production/social media content creation
• An excellent scriptwriter, producer, storyteller and collaborator, with strong interpersonal skills and experience in on-camera work;
• Existing source relationships with policy experts, labor leaders, advocacy organizations and other potential resources for finding leads and news stories;
• Strong editorial judgement, understanding of journalistic practices and ethics, and experience working within a fast-paced news cycle;
• The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet hard deadlines;
• Proven ability to grow audiences on social media is a plus, particularly for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube;
• Passion for, and substantial knowledge of, national politics and economic justice issues;
• Available full-time hours and able to excel in a remote/work from home environment;
• Proficiency with Adobe Premiere as well as in-platform editing tools on TikTok and Instagram a plus;
• Experience managing interns or fellows is a plus;
• Experience producing and scripting YouTube content strongly desired