Freelance Technical Director

FOX News Media is hiring a Freelance Technical Director at their Washington, D.C. bureau to work across live broadcast productions for FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network. This role sits in the control room, where the TD operates the switcher and manages all visual output for live news programming in a 24/7 broadcast environment. It suits an experienced control room operator who is comfortable calling shots on breaking news coverage and knows how to hold it together when a story moves faster than the rundown.

About the Role

The Technical Director position works within the broadcast operations team, supporting live news productions that air across the FOX News network, one of the most watched cable news operations in the country. Day-to-day, this person is behind the switcher for live broadcasts, working closely with graphics and editorial to keep every element of a show timed and on air. The work spans regularly scheduled programming as well as unplanned breaking news, which means shifts can cover any hour across a 24-hour production cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate the production switcher during live news broadcasts that air across the FOX News network, cutting between sources and managing transitions in real time.
• Manage DVEs, device controllers, and video servers as part of the live broadcast workflow, ensuring all visual elements are executed on cue.
• Maintain and organize switcher files, visual effects presets, and peripheral equipment associated with the TD area between productions.
• Troubleshoot video workflow issues as they arise during live broadcasts, identifying and resolving technical problems without interrupting air.
• Work with the graphics department and editorial leads during new show development to integrate visual elements into the production design.
• Offer practical suggestions to producers and directors that improve the visual execution of shows based on what is actually achievable in the control room.

What You Bring

• Hands-on experience as a Technical Director in a live news or live broadcast control room environment.
• Working knowledge of production switchers, DVEs, device controllers, and video server systems used in broadcast television.
• A bachelor’s degree in media or a related field is preferred, though equivalent professional experience in live broadcast production is accepted.
• Availability to work weekends and rotating shifts across all hours, including breaking news situations with no advance notice.
• Genuine interest in current events and a solid understanding of how news editorial decisions affect production execution.

Why This Role

FOX News Media reaches 200 million people each month, and the Washington, D.C. bureau sits at the center of political and breaking news coverage that drives a significant portion of that output. For a Freelance Technical Director, this is high-volume live broadcast experience on one of the most-watched cable news platforms in operation. The pay rate for this role is $40.00 to $50.00 per hour, with the final offer depending on experience, skills, and background.

Apply now for the Freelance Technical Director role at FOX News Media and bring your control room experience to one of the most active live news operations in the country.