Senior Standards Manager, Mornings, MS NOW

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

OVERVIEW

The Senior Standards Manager, Mornings, will be the Versant News Standards Team's first line of defense every weekday, working with editorial teams at MS NOW and CNBC to achieve the best journalism outcomes, ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines, and fostering a culture of accuracy, fairness, and transparency in news reporting. They will collaborate with journalists, producers, and reporters at Versant’s news platforms to maintain editorial integrity while adapting to the evolving media landscape. We seek someone who has been a leader in a major news organization and is capable of making split-second decisions with organization-wide ethical and reputational implications, often while the rest of the standards team is asleep.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Editorial Guidance:

• Help implement editorial policies and guidelines for news content across digital, broadcast, and streaming news platforms and shows
• Review scripts and packages for programs including Morning Joe and provide real-time guidance as shows air
• Review other work, including digital text pieces, social video, podcasts and promos
• Ensure accuracy and fairness in reporting while adhering to ethical and journalistic best practices
• Provide real-time guidance on breaking news stories to ensure coverage is accurate and ethical
• Work closely with journalists, editors, producers, and reporters to implement best practices in storytelling, sourcing, fact-checking and more
• Advise on editorial decisions during breaking news and crisis situations to minimize risk
• Assess content from partners such as Sky News to determine whether it meets Versant standards for publication
• Collaborate with colleagues in legal and rights and clearances departments when work requires their expertise
• Help manage corrections, retractions, and responses to complaints or challenges to published content
• Help monitor and address misinformation or disinformation threats impacting the news organization

Essential Requirements:

• 10+ years working experience within the journalism field – including broadcast, cable, digital or print — with at least some of that experience with a major news organization
• Adept in all forms of storytelling – both on traditional media, as well as emerging platforms
• Must have ability to communicate and collaborate across all-levels
• Should be open and able to adapt to new approaches to content and storytelling
• Must have exceptional news and editorial judgment
• Must be willing/able to work in the London office

Desired Characteristics:

• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with all levels of talent and leadership
•  Proven ability to remain calm in high pressure environment
• Highly collaborative in tone and approach
• Proven ability to multi-task and manage a wide array of responsibilities in a deadline driven environment  
• Exceptional business ethics demonstrated professionalism and sound judgment
• Prior experience in investigative journalism a plus
• Familiarity with (or knowledge of) digital journalism and social media standards and practices
• Ability to handle confidential material with utmost discretion
• Self-starter; able to work independently and proactively
• Exceptional writing and editorial skills

Additional Job Requirements:

• Interested candidate must submit a resume/CV through https://careers.versantmedia.com to be considered.
• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.
• Start Time: 8:00 am GMT
• Must have the legal right to work in the UK

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.