Chief Librarian/ Archivist - NBC News

I got this job via Twitter from @needalibraryjob, but I really had to search for the full posting. For future reference, NBC International jobs are accessible from this website, by selecting the Careers tab, and NBC Universal jobs are available on this site. I love the requirement to work "unsociable hours".


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Job Title: Chief Librarian/Archivist - NBC News
Business Segment: News & Information
Function: News Production

About Us

NBC News has been a leading source of global news and information for more than 75 years, first on radio, and today via broadcast and cable television, the Internet, radio, and cell phones.

The London News Bureau plays a key role in providing the coverage of international news and in supporting overseas field operations. This is a busy environment covering stories 24/7 and therefore a flexible approach, a sense of humour and an interest in international news are essential.

We work on quick turnaround news packages to tight deadlines, you will demonstrate the ability to locate relevant good quality pictures for stories being edited to deadline.

Career Level: Experienced
City: London, UK

Responsibilities

• Manage the processes to ensure that all stills/video content of archival value is registered and has a route to the digital archive, along with associated editorial information. 
• Collate NBC-generated material, as well as material from external sources.
• Point person in the Library for Rights and Clearance issues, scheduling Librarians and dealing with day to day procedural issues involving the Library team.
• Research pictures from various sources for stories as requested by News and Show Producers from the London News Bureau and from other locations, often under tight time constraints. 
• Negotiate and obtain the relevant rights and clearances for items used by a variety of NBC platforms.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Picture Librarian in a digital environment working with a demanding customer base in a busy broadcast environment; strong IT skills are essential for this role and prior experience of Avid Interplay would be an advantage.
• Manage the processes to ensure that all stills/video content of archival value is registered and has a route to the digital archive. 
• Collate NBC-generated material from field and studio recordings as well as requesting material from Eurovision, RTV, APTV, ITN and the BBC. 
• Search a variety of new media sources for new and unusual content and upload appropriate items onto NBC server.
• Manage the small team of Librarians, communicate new procedures and workflow changes, issue schedules, deal with inter-personal issues if required.
• Create simple and rights compliant conventions for the News Desk and production teams to search and retrieve content and upload, edit and broadcast the material.
• Liaise closely with Rights and Clearances department in New York to make the best deal and cover as many platforms as possible when licensing material.
• Manage organisation and access to the database by Production colleagues.
• Train the News Desk Editor and Production teams to use archive systems.
• Deal with research requests for material and anticipate developing stories so that material is readily available.
• Working unsociable hours is a regular feature of the job. 
• Flexibility to work long shifts, during weekends and in the evenings is essential; must be prepared to accept out of hours phone calls/e-mails and drop everything and come in if a big story breaks.

Desired Characteristics

• Strong IT skills; experience of Avid Interplay an advantage.
• Technically competent to ensure NBC News content is preserved appropriately and archived and catalogued according to agreed conventions and rights considerations.
• Research skills to search catalogued and un-catalogued archives and the skills to continue the development of the NBC News archive
• An excellent `picture eye’ and attention to detail
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills and customer-focus approach; able to work collaboratively with a multi skilled team and deal with members of the public and interviewees diplomatically and sensitively. Ability to deal with interpersonal issues in a mature and patient manner when they arise.
• Able to deliver quality work under pressure and to tight deadlines; able to maintain high attention to detail, organisation and problem solving skills in challenging environments
• Understand the news market and NBC audience dynamics and bring this context to each production. Good general knowledge of local and world current affairs is essential.
• Current knowledge of the relevant legislation, regulations, and associated procedures, including Libel and Contempt, Copyright, Data Protection, Public Liability, etc., and how to comply with regulatory requirements
• The responsibilities associated with this position are not limited to the above job description and may be modified at any time by the Company.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove they are able to work in the United Kingdom.
For US Citizens; Must be covered by Solutions; NBCU’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.