How to hire a morning news producer

How to hire a morning news producer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step morning news producer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a morning news producer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new morning news producer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The morning news producer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A morning news producer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, morning news producers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents morning news producer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Morning News Producer	Description	Hourly rate
   Morning News Producer	Producers and directors create motion pictures, television shows, live theater, commercials, and other performing arts productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience.	$17-31
   Stage Manager	A stage manager is someone who oversees theatrical performances and all practical and technical aspects of rehearsals and shows, such as lighting cues, sound, prop usage, and costume changes. The core skills that stage managers should possess to accomplish their responsibilities include excellent attention to detail, the ability to multi-task and work under pressure, and strong leadership and problem-solving skills... Show more	$15-36
   Producer Internship	Producer interns require strong analytical, delegation, planning, time management, and prioritization skills, in addition to flexibility and the ability to work in fast-paced environments. Interns will need to set up rehearsals, transport musicians and instruments, plan and assist with recreational activities, and perform various other production tasks.	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • News Stories
   • Control Room
   • Assignment Desk
   • Web Site
   • Develop Story Ideas
   • News Content
   • Local News
   • News Situations
   • Severe Weather
   • ENPS
   • News Coverage
   • Live Shots
   • Book Guests
   • Show Content

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the QA process including test/debug cycles and platform compliance/compatibility testing.
   • Design and produce high-level PowerPoint presentations for large-scale corporate events and key stand-alone projects.
   • Live weekday VJ reporter (writing, shooting and editing video) providing daily packages and VO/SOTS.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your morning news producer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A morning news producer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, morning news producers' average salary in hawaii is 48% less than in georgia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level morning news producers earn 43% less than senior-level morning news producers.
   • Certifications. A morning news producer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a morning news producer's salary.

   Average morning news producer salary

   $49,890yearly

   $23.99 hourly rate

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   Entry-level morning news producer salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a morning news producer job description

   A morning news producer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a morning news producer job description:

   Morning news producer job description example

   WGNO is looking for someone with a fun outlook and a winning attitude to produce our morning newscasts. Here is your opportunity to work with the coolest morning team in New Orleans.
   
   We have an opening on Good Morning New Orleans for the right person who understands local news, can enterprise stories, and enjoys the hectic pace of a newsroom.
   
   Are you trying to get your foot in the door at a Top 50 news department or move up from a smaller tv market? If so, check out the expectations below and apply online.
   Essential Functions:
   
   • Be creative and create compelling and memorable newscasts • Write creative headlines and teases • Maintain working knowledge of current events, community issues, and local contacts • Search wire services, network feeds, websites, and social media to find relevant material for newscasts • Collaborate with news operations staff to build graphics • Work with directors and anchors on presentation of stories
   
   • Clear, concise, conversational writing skills • Excellent communication skills • Demonstrate solid news judgment • Maintain strong journalistic ethics • Strong initiative and attention to detail • Research and brainstorm story ideas, present ideas in editorial meetings
   
   • Generate promotable story ideas daily • Post and update stories to station website and social media sites, engage viewers • Communicate with the web staff during breaking news • Perform other job-related duties as assigned • Write news stories • Assist producers in formatting other newscasts
   
   Essential Skills & Abilities: • Knowledge of newsroom software • Knowledge of web posting software • Strong research skills, including online research using various search engines • Ability to stay current with national and local news/weather • Knowledge of engaging on social media • Ability to meet tight deadlines and work well under pressure • Ability to work independently with little supervision • Demonstrate leadership through training and mentoring less experienced staff members; guide others to get the desired outcome • Ability to remain positive and foster a positive work environment; work well with co-workers • Handle and adjust to last-minute changes • Make quick, accurate decisions during the on-air process

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find morning news producers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your morning news producer job on Zippia to find and recruit morning news producer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit morning news producers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new morning news producer

   Once you've found the morning news producer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new morning news producer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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