Freelance Game Journalism Jobs (NOW HIRING)

WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.
Game Production Lead, Local Media
Position Summary
The Game Production Lead, Local Media, is responsible for leading the planning and execution of live NBA game broadcasts across the league's Local Media organization. Reporting to the Content Production Lead, this role oversees the day-to-day execution of game productions, ensuring consistent, high-quality broadcasts that align with the editorial vision, production standards, innovation, and operational objectives established by the Local Media leadership team.
Working closely with Content Planning, Production Technology, Broadcast Engineering & Operations, Graphics, Programming, Distribution, and team production personnel, the Game Production Lead ensures live game productions are operationally excellent, creatively compelling, and delivered consistently across all NBA team markets.
This role plays a critical part in supporting the NBA's centralized Local Media model by driving production excellence, developing standardized workflows, and ensuring every live game broadcast delivers an engaging fan experience.
Major Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day planning and execution of live NBA game broadcasts across assigned Local Media productions.

• Partner with the Content Planning team to execute editorial priorities, storytelling initiatives, and game presentation elements throughout the season.

• Supervise producers, directors, talent, associate directors, replay operators, production coordinators, and game-day production personnel supporting live game broadcasts.

• Develop detailed game production plans, rundowns, staffing plans, and operational timelines for all assigned productions.

• Ensure production quality, consistency, and operational readiness across all game broadcasts while maintaining each team's unique identity and storytelling approach.

• Collaborate with Production Technology and Broadcast Engineering & Operations to ensure production workflows leverage centralized control rooms, REMI workflows, cloud-based production systems, and emerging technologies.

• Work closely with Graphics, Creative Services, and Production Operations to integrate graphics, statistical content, sponsored elements, and other storytelling components into live broadcasts.

• Work closely with the Broadcast Event & Studio Innovation team to ideate, evaluate and implement what is new and next for Local Media game an studio productions.

• Coordinate with Distribution teams to ensure production deliverables meet technical specifications for linear, digital, and direct-to-consumer platforms.

• Lead production rehearsals, pre-production planning meetings, post-game reviews, and operational debriefs to continuously improve broadcast quality.

• Identify opportunities to improve production workflows, operational efficiency, and consistency across all Local Media productions.

• Support the implementation of new production technologies, alternate broadcasts, AI-enabled production tools, and evolving production workflows.

• Maintain production documentation, operational standards, and best practices for live game broadcasts.

• Build strong working relationships with team production staff, freelance personnel, production vendors, and internal business partners.

• Mentor and develop production staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Support budget management, resource planning, and production scheduling to maximize operational efficiency.

Required Education/Professional Experience

• 8+ years of experience in live sports television production, preferably with professional sports leagues, regional sports networks, or national broadcasters.

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Television Production, Media Production, Journalism, or a related field preferred.

• Experience producing and/or directing live sports broadcasts.

• Experience managing live production teams in fast-paced environments.

• Experience supporting multi-game or multi-market production operations preferred.

• Experience working with REMI, centralized production, or cloud-enabled production workflows preferred.

• Experience collaborating with engineering, production technology, graphics, and distribution teams.

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes

• Strong expertise in live sports production workflows and control room operations.

• Excellent understanding of game production, directing, producing, replay, graphics integration, and production coordination.

• Strong editorial judgment and live storytelling skills.

• Ability to lead complex live productions under tight deadlines.

• Working knowledge of modern production technologies, including IP-based production and cloud-enabled workflows.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional production quality.

• Excellent collaboration skills across Content, Production Technology, Engineering, Graphics, Programming, and Distribution teams.

• Established history of creating a culture of consistent feedback and coaching across all levels

• Commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and innovation.

• Financial and operational awareness with experience managing production resources effectively.

Salary Range:
$170,000 - $200,000
Job Posting Title:
Senior Director
Employees currently are eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus, awarded at the sole discretion of the Company and subject to any terms and conditions set by the Company. Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company-sponsored employee benefit programs: medical; dental; vision; life/AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; fertility and family-forming assistance; wellbeing allowance; educational assistance; mental health coaching/therapy; tax advantaged accounts such as HSA and healthcare/dependent care FSAs; a 401(k) retirement plan; and time off benefits that include vacation, sick time, and personal days.
We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.
The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA's own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries. NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA's global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.