Community connections coordinator, wews

WEWS, The E.W. Scripps Company ABC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio, is searching for a Community Connections Coordinator. We're looking for a driven, people-first professional to join our team and serve as the vital link between our newsroom and the communities we cover. In this role, you'll cultivate meaningful relationships, surface credible story leads, coordinate community events and listening sessions, and help our journalists connect with the trusted local voices that make our coverage matter. Whether you're in the field building source networks, managing audience tips, or supporting breaking news coverage, your work will directly shape how WEWS serves the people of Greater Cleveland every day.

Application Review: Applications received by 11/04 will receive priority consideration. Applications received after this date may continue to be reviewed as needed.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, residents, leaders, and trusted sources to gather community insights and identify emerging issues, events, and story opportunities.
• Monitor, track, and route audience tips, questions, and leads from community channels, ensuring timely communication and escalation to newsroom teams.
• Support newsroom listening efforts, community conversations, and source development by connecting journalists with credible and diverse community voices.
• Assist with breaking and developing news coverage by gathering community context, maintaining source networks, and providing timely intelligence to newsroom staff.
• Serve as a responsive point of contact for community organizations and residents, fostering positive relationships and trust.
• Coordinate outreach, maintain partner and contact records, and represent the station at community meetings, events, and activities.
• Support newsroom talent by coordinating interviews, identifying community contacts, gathering background information, and facilitating community appearances.
• Coordinate logistics and execution for community conversations, listening sessions, public programs, newsroom events, special coverage initiatives, and station appearances.
• Manage event-related activities including outreach, scheduling, partner coordination, participant communications, on-site support, and post-event follow-up.
• Support audience engagement across digital and in-person channels, including live discussions, community groups, neighborhood platforms, and other audience interaction opportunities.
• Maintain community calendars, project plans, contact databases, and engagement records to support execution of the market community strategy.
• Track community insights, engagement outcomes, story leads, and best practices, preparing summaries and reports that help inform newsroom and community engagement priorities.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Associates degree in related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred
• Generally, 5+ years of experience in journalism, communications, community engagement, nonprofit work, events, public relations or related fields

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• Strong listening, relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish rapport with diverse community members and organizations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organization, follow-through and attention to detail
• Ability to identify and communicate relevant community information quickly and accurately
• Ability to collaborate effectively with journalists and station teams
• Comfort working independently in the community and adapting to newsroom needs
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM/contact systems, social platforms and collaboration tools
• Solid news judgment, comfort with newsroom urgency, ability to verify and relay information quickly, and understanding of how community tips can develop into stories
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately across digital platforms, maintain professionalism in public-facing conversations and collaborate closely with reporters, producers, anchors, meteorologists and newsroom leaders

WHERE YOU'LL LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY:

Cleveland is a city of neighborhoods, grit, and genuine heart — and it's having a moment. Situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland combines a rich cultural heritage with a revitalized downtown and a food and arts scene that consistently surprises newcomers. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art (with free general admission), and Playhouse Square — the largest performing arts center in the U.S. outside of New York City — give the city a cultural depth that is hard to match. Walkable neighborhoods like Ohio City, Tremont, and Little Italy each bring their own distinctive character, cuisine, and community.

Sports are woven into the fabric of Cleveland life. Cheer on the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, follow the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, and join the passionate faithful who rally behind the Cleveland Browns every season. The sense of community pride around Cleveland's teams is infectious, and game days turn the city into one big celebration.

The outdoors are never far away. Cuyahoga Valley National Park — the only national park in Ohio — sits just south of the city, offering miles of hiking, biking, waterfalls, and scenic railroad excursions. Cleveland Metroparks wraps the city in a beloved "Emerald Necklace" of parks and trails, and Lake Erie's shoreline provides year-round recreation from sailing to fishing. With a lower cost of living than many comparable metros, a growing tech and healthcare economy, and a community-first spirit you can feel on every block, Cleveland is a fantastic place to build a career and a life.

#LI-SM2 #LI-Onsite

COMPENSATION RANGE:

Annual Salary: $60,000.00 - $70,000

Pursuant to state and local salary transparency laws, the salary range posted is specific to candidates who will perform this work in Ohio.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

• A career path to grow your professional experiences
• Full medical, dental and vision benefits, as well as certain other health and wellness benefits
• Retirement savings plan with company match
• Other key company benefits include disability accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, life insurance, AD&D, ID protection, pet discount program, and employee assistance program. More details about timing and conditions of benefits eligibility and other plan terms and conditions will be provided upon hire.

If you are a current Scripps employee, please do not apply on this site. Please access our internal career site at Worklife > My Info > View Open Positions at Scripps.

SCRIPPS’ COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE THAT CREATES CONNECTION:

At Scripps, we are committed to a culture that reflects the audiences and communities we serve. We are intentional about creating an environment where employees, our audiences and other stakeholders feel valued and inspired to reach their full potential and create connections. To successfully deliver on this commitment, we must understand and reflect the values and perspectives those around us embody. That process begins by looking inward to build and celebrate a respectful workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and connection. By continuing to cultivate an environment where all employees have a fair chance to succeed, are included, valued, and seen, we will strengthen the connections that drive positive business impact and align with our core purpose.

ABOUT SCRIPPS:

The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating connection. As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households across the U.S. with national news outlet Scripps News and popular entertainment brands ION, ION Plus, ION Mystery, Bounce, Grit and Laff. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps Sports serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach of up to 100% of TV households. Founded in 1878, Scripps is the steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee and its longtime motto is: “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

As an equal employment opportunity employer, The E.W. Scripps Company and its affiliates do not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, color, religion, age, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, citizenship or national origin, and military membership or veteran status, or on any other basis which would be in violation of any applicable federal, state or local law. Furthermore, the company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship for the company.