About Us
Powered by one of the largest global newsrooms in sports media, The Athletic brings sports fans the most comprehensive stories about the teams, sports and athletes they love. The Athletic’s newsroom of 500+ full-time staff delivers in-depth coverage of hundreds of professional and college teams across more than 47 North American markets and all 20 football clubs in the English Premier League, as well as many Championship clubs.
About the Role
The Athletic is looking for a Senior Producer to serve as the editorial lead for our new daily flagship live show. Reporting to the Executive Producer, you will be the primary architect of the show’s daily rundown. You are a master of pacing, a sharp scriptwriter, and a decisive leader in the control room.
The ideal candidate knows how to translate The Athletic’s deep-dive journalism into high-energy live segments. You will collaborate with a team of social producers, journalists, hosts, and editors to ensure that every video clip, graphic, and guest segment is prepped and ready for air. When the "On Air" light hits, you are the steady hand ensuring the show stays on time and on brand.
Responsibilities
Rundown Construction: Lead the daily editorial meeting and own the "Master Rundown." You will decide the order of stories, the length of segments, and the best way to visualize complex sports data.
Scripting & Storytelling: Oversee the writing of all show scripts, intros, and teases. You must ensure the show’s "voice" is authoritative, witty, and consistent with The Athletic’s editorial standards.
Control Room Execution: Act as the "Line Producer" during the live broadcast. You will be responsible for timing the show to the second, communicating cues to the talent via IFB, and making snap decisions to add or cut content based on time.
Team Management: Supervise Associate Producers, Production Assistants, and Editors. You will provide clear direction on B-roll selection, graphic requests, and social media clipping priorities.
Segment Production: Take "ownership" of complex feature segments, coordinating with the newsroom to bring in reporters as guests and ensuring they are prepped with talking points and visual aids.
Quality Control: Review all video assets and graphics prior to air to ensure zero errors in spelling, attribution, or technical formatting.
Post-Show Optimization: Lead the post-mortem meeting to analyze what worked and what didn't. Coordinate with the social team to ensure "must-see" moments from the live show are immediately packaged for digital distribution.
Requirements
7+ Years in Live Production: Extensive experience in a live control room environment, specifically for sports or daily news talk shows.
Rundown Software Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in industry-standard tools (ex: Rundown Studio)
Exceptional Scriptwriting: Ability to write "for the ear" crafting punchy, conversational copy that sounds natural for live talent.
Strong Editorial Judgment: A deep understanding of what makes a sports story "move the needle" and how to prioritize news in a crowded daily cycle.
Leadership & Mentorship: Experience managing junior staff and the ability to give constructive feedback in a high-pressure environment.
Technical Literacy: A solid understanding of studio workflows, including how to work with Technical Directors and Audio Engineers to achieve specific creative looks.
Stamina & Speed: The ability to work on a morning-of production cycle, staying cool when breaking news forces a complete rundown rewrite 30 minutes before air.