Senior Video Journalist & Mentor

Lede New Orleans is a community media hub transforming how journalism serves the people of our city. We train emerging Black and Brown storytellers, amplify stories that respond to local needs, and foster trusted spaces for civic discussion.

Lede New Orleans a small nonprofit startup, not a big, buttoned-up newsroom. That means we’re often documenting processes as we go, testing new ideas and figuring things out together. We’re looking for someone who is deeply community-oriented and thrives in environments where flexibility, creativity and collaboration are key.

Lede New Orleans is looking for a Senior Video Journalist & Mentor to support our Community Reporting Fellowship team. The Community Reporting Fellowship is a 24-week paid training program for emerging Black and Brown storytellers, ages 18–25. Fellows explore how journalism can be used as a tool for civic power while developing multimedia storytelling skills.

The Senior Video Journalist & Mentor will collaborate with a small editorial team to guide video-track fellows in developing their visual storytelling skills, lead team-based video journalism work, and contribute an original video project to the fellowship’s final published series, which will focus on the theme of affordable housing in New Orleans. The Senior Video Journalist & Mentor also will collaborate with the Senior Editor and other editorial leads to develop video journalism  projects, identify community subjects and storylines, and facilitate making high-quality, compelling video stories for digital platforms.

This is a hands-on, collaborative role for someone who is passionate about local journalism and excited to coach early-career video journalists and documentarians in the craft of community-centered video storytelling. We are looking for someone who has experience producing video stories that document local people and issues, centering compassion in the storytelling process.

The ideal candidate:

• Tells stories through a visual lens, with an eye for capturing compelling footage and a strong instinct for narrative flow.

• Thrives in a coaching role, and knows how to support emerging video storytellers through fieldwork, feedback, and hands-on guidance.

• Is tech-comfortable, with experience using Adobe Premiere Pro, Blackmagic cameras, and a solid grasp of video production from planning to post.

• Believes in journalism as a tool for equity, and brings care, curiosity, and community awareness to every phase of the storytelling process

This is a contract opportunity tied to the Community Reporting Fellowship program cycle. We anticipate the contract to be about 9 months, beginning in September 2025 and concluding in April 2026. The contract duration includes additional time built in before and after the fellowship for planning, training, and editorial wrap-up.

• You know how to bring a story to life on screen—from pre-interview and camera setup to editing a strong narrative arc.

• You enjoy mentoring new video storytellers and have the patience and clarity to walk someone through the basics in the field or in the edit suite.

• You’re energized by collaboration and want to be part of a team building something that centers equity, care, and creativity.

• You believe journalism should serve and reflect communities—and you’re committed to using your skills to help make that happen.

• Lead video journalism work for the fellowship, including producing your own short documentary and guiding fellows through a collaborative group project on affordable housing.

• Mentor emerging video storytellers, offering weekly coaching sessions, hands-on field support, and shadowing opportunities during editing and production.

• Design and lead 2–4 workshops, and create 3–4 hands-on portfolio assignments that help fellows build core video journalism skills like off-camera interviews, subject-in-action interviews, and B-roll gathering.

• Collaborate with the editorial team to shape story ideas, align video with other mediums, and ensure content is accurate, ethical, and rooted in community context.

• Contribute to program learning, including end-of-program feedback and evaluation to strengthen the fellowship experience.

👉 Read the full contract opportunity description here.

• A solid foundation in video journalism and short-form documentary work, with a portfolio that shows your range—from interviews and B-roll to strong narrative structure.

• Hands-on experience with Adobe Premiere Pro and comfort using video equipment in the field—including the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 and Canon systems.

• A collaborative spirit and the ability to support emerging video storytellers, whether you’re in the field, in the edit suite, or leading a workshop.

• A deep commitment to community-centered storytelling, with an understanding of journalism ethics and a drive to make work that’s both accurate and liberatory.

• The ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines while staying organized, thoughtful, and responsive.

👉 Read the full contract opportunity description here.

Don’t meet every requirement listed? That’s OK. We value lived experience, community insight, and a growth mindset just as much as formal credentials.

• This is a contract opportunity at 10 hours per week from September 2025 to April 2026, with a few weeks of prep and editorial wrap-up built in.

• Pay is a flat $10,000, paid in installments over the work period.

• This is a contract role and does not include employee benefits.

• Time off for program breaks during Thanksgiving, winter holidays and Mardi Gras.

• The role requires in-person work in New Orleans. Remote work is not available.

• Work-From-Home Flexibility: For those based in New Orleans, flexible work from home flexibility options. We have an office where we hold regular in-person meetings and fellowship training sessions. 

• Culture of Learning: Access to a culture of intentional professional development and organizational learning. Lede New Orleans staff hold regular reflection meetings to connect, reflect and surface learnings and feedback on policies and practices.

We’re projecting the following timeline for this hiring process. We will notify candidates of any shifts as we move through the process.

• Application closes on August 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST

• Within 2 weeks of closing applications, you will know if you’ve moved onto the interview stage

• Within 2 weeks of your interview, you’ll know if you moved onto the case exercise stage

• Within 1 week of your case exercise completion, you’ll know if you moved onto the final interview

• We expect to make a final offer in September

Lede New Orleans is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.