Research Project Will Fund Digital Content Creators To Engage Younger Audiences

Media researchers at Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and Media Innovation have selected five local newsroom partners to collaborate on research aimed at engaging younger audiences on digital platforms to expand the project’s reach, and are seeking early-career video storytellers to apply for two funded fellowships. The Reinventing TV Digital Media Innovation Center will place Stanton Innovation Fellows and Co-ops to work as Digital Content Creators in newsrooms. This new phase of the research comes after the recent publication of Reinvent: A Survival Guide for Local TV News, which called on newsrooms to hire for the roles as a way to engage new audiences.

The five partners reflect the widening scope of the research. Alongside established local TV newsrooms, the project now includes a digital-only news site, Boston.com, and 910 Media Group, a CBS affiliate that serves Traverse City and northern Michigan on channels 9 and 10. 

“Pairing a digital-native platform with a regional newsroom will help test whether the Digital Content Creator model can be adapted across both platform type and market scale, not just the large-market TV stations studied in earlier phases,” said project lead Mike Beaudet, Emmy award-winning TV news investigative reporter and director of the Reinventing TV Digital Media Innovation Center at Northeastern.

“Boston.com has always embraced experimentation in digital media,” said Boston.com editor Kaitlyn Johnston. “The Stanton Innovation Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to test new ideas, strengthen our approach to video and social media, and better understand how local journalism can serve younger audiences. We can’t wait to get started.” 

“The future of local journalism is not about choosing between broadcast and digital — it is about developing strong, relevant storytelling for every platform,” said Josh Trust, Chief Operating Officer of 910 Media Group. “The Digital Content Creator fellowship will help us accelerate that work while giving an emerging journalist the opportunity to experiment, learn, and make a meaningful impact in our newsroom.”

The six-month co-ops, which will be filled by Northeastern students, will begin in January 2027 and be hosted at WCBS in New York, WCVB in Boston, and WFSB in Hartford. This next phase of the project will experiment with new ways to reach younger audiences with a focus on digital content and social media. Researchers hope to strengthen communities with high-quality video journalism that meets the needs of new audiences for news. The project is funded by a grant of more than $3 million from the Stanton Foundation,which was founded by former CBS President Dr. Frank Stanton to build a better-informed citizenry, and Northeastern University.

The project will build on previous phases of research at Northeastern about the future of local television news. Since its launch in 2016, Northeastern’s Reinventing Local TV News Project (RLTVN) has completed three successful research phases. In Phase I, the research team conducted a national survey that revealed a strong interest in local news among audiences but also identified the need for more engaging content. In Phase II, the team added advanced animation and graphics to newscasts and found that these innovations increased audience interest and comprehension. Phase III tested the Digital Content Creator role in three newsrooms and revealed how prioritizing digital content can increase engagement. All previous phases put tools and workshops directly in the hands of industry partners, ensuring that research insights are immediately adoptable in the newsroom.

The Digital Content Creator will:

• Conceptualize, plan, and produce high-quality video news stories for streaming and digital platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram
• Shoot and edit video footage for digital platforms using professional cameras and editing software, ensuring excellent image and sound quality
• Conduct thorough research and gather relevant information to develop compelling storylines and scripts
• Write clear, concise, and engaging scripts that effectively convey news and information to viewers
• Collaborate closely with the news team to gather video assets, interviews, and other necessary content 
• Communicate with the Northeastern research team regularly about their role and experience as a Digital Content Creator
• Understand and interpret performance data and analytics and make creative decisions based on high-performing content and community needs

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience as a video news producer, preferably in a newsroom or digital media environment
• Strong proficiency in shooting with professional cameras, lighting, and audio equipment
• Strong proficiency in video editing software Adobe Premiere Pro
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and engaging manner
• Knowledge of social media and digital streaming platforms, including best practices for video content distribution
• Familiarity with graphic design, motion graphics, and/or animation software is a plus
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising quality
• Strong attention to detail and a keen eye for visual aesthetics
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively within a team environment
• A creative mindset and the ability to generate fresh ideas and concepts for video content
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Comfort working in a newly created role and eagerness to help define the future of news

Interested candidates should apply here. Email questions to: reinventingtvnews@gmail.com.