At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic editorial team to curate engaging digital content across platforms.
- Company: Join Warner Bros. Discovery, a global leader in news and media.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant London newsroom with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of digital journalism while making a real impact on audiences.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in digital journalism and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
We’re seeking a Director of Digital Programming, Weekend to report into the VP of Programming and lead the editorial team responsible for curating and optimising the content experience across our core digital surfaces — web, mobile web, and mobile apps — for a 24/7 global news organisation. This role is at the intersection of journalism, audience behaviour, and product innovation. The ideal candidate brings sharp editorial judgment, strong people leadership, and a strategic mindset grounded in data. You ensure our digital front doors consistently reflect the urgency, depth, and breadth of our journalism — and that they serve the evolving needs of our audiences around the clock. The Weekend Director will play a critical role helping to develop and lead execution of the weekend homepage strategy. The role is based out of our London newsroom, working a 4‑day week inclusive of Saturday and Sunday.
Your Role Accountabilities
- Lead a team of editors programming the organisation’s home and front‑door digital experiences (web, mobile web, and app).
- Guide programming strategy across formats — including live video, text, audio, and visuals — ensuring each is optimised.
- Exercise strong editorial judgment in real‑time, particularly during high‑pressure breaking news and questions of content hierarchy, timing and rotation.
- Ensure content selection aligns with core editorial values while meeting the needs of users (Catch me up, Take me deeper, Entertain me).
- Frame stories with clarity, accuracy and impact, including writing or approving high‑quality headlines, teases, and promotional language.
- Demonstrate ability to make sophisticated editorial decisions and seamlessly curate across live, text, visual and video formats.
- Monitor real‑time analytics to inform programming decisions and adjust content placement dynamically, partnering with the Audience, Data, and Research teams to deepen understanding of audience segments and consumption habits.
- Manage and mentor a distributed editorial team, providing direction, feedback, and growth opportunities.
Qualifications & Experience
- Extensive experience in digital journalism, audience programming, or editorial operations within a fast‑paced news or media environment.
- Experience managing teams in a 24/7 publishing operation, ideally with global coordination.
- Demonstrated ability to balance real‑time editorial instincts with long‑term strategic thinking.
- Deep understanding of audience engagement, digital consumption behaviours, and cross‑platform storytelling (text, video, audio).
- Experience working with product and design teams to enhance digital storytelling or homepage surfaces.
Hybrid Working
This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in‑office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.
Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law. If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.
Director, Homepage Programming employer: CNN
Warner Bros. Discovery is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where creativity meets innovation. With a commitment to employee growth and a hybrid working model, we empower our team to thrive both personally and professionally while curating impactful digital content for a global audience. Our inclusive culture values diverse perspectives, ensuring that every voice is heard and contributes to our mission of delivering high-quality journalism around the clock.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Homepage Programming
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you have a portfolio or examples of your work, make sure to highlight them during interviews. This is your chance to demonstrate your editorial judgment and strategic mindset.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on industry trends. Knowing what's hot in digital journalism and audience behaviour will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to the team’s success.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Homepage Programming
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in digital journalism and audience programming. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your editorial judgement and strategic mindset!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Director, you'll be leading a team, so it's crucial to demonstrate your people management experience. Share examples of how you've mentored teams or managed editorial operations in a fast-paced environment. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and guide others!
Highlight Your Data Savvy:Since this role involves monitoring real-time analytics, make sure to mention any experience you have with data-driven decision-making. We’re keen on candidates who can blend editorial instincts with insights from audience behaviour to optimise content effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets into the right hands. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at CNN
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, take some time to research the company’s audience and their digital consumption habits. Understanding who they cater to will help you align your editorial strategies with their needs, showcasing your ability to lead a team that resonates with users.
✨Showcase Your Editorial Judgement
Prepare examples of how you've exercised strong editorial judgement in high-pressure situations. Be ready to discuss specific instances where your decisions had a significant impact on content selection and audience engagement, demonstrating your capability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Highlight Team Leadership Skills
Since this role involves managing a distributed editorial team, come prepared to talk about your leadership style. Share experiences where you’ve successfully mentored team members, provided constructive feedback, and fostered growth opportunities, showing that you can inspire and guide a diverse group.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Familiarise yourself with real-time analytics tools and be ready to discuss how you’ve used data to inform programming decisions in the past. Highlight your ability to adjust content dynamically based on audience behaviour, which is crucial for optimising the digital experience across platforms.
