PT JIB and Handheld Camera Operator

Tribune Media Company is hiring a PT JIB and Handheld Camera Operator at KTLA in Los Angeles to join their broadcast production team. This role sits within the camera department and is responsible for capturing live and taped footage across news programming and other studio productions, operating both JIB and handheld rigs depending on what the show demands. It suits a working camera operator with real broadcast television experience who can move between equipment types and hold up under the pressure of live news production.

About the Role

This is a part-time, seasonal position embedded in the studio production workflow at KTLA, covering live news broadcasts, taped segments, and automated programming. On any given shift, you might be pulling handheld shots during a breaking news segment, operating the JIB for a produced feature, or covering robotic camera duties during crew breaks. The role requires close coordination with directors, engineers, and news staff across the full broadcast television production pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate JIB and handheld camera systems to capture director-specified shots that serve both live news and produced studio content.
• Set up, maintain, and strike camera equipment in accordance with studio production schedules, including gear that may exceed 25 lbs.
• Cover robotic camera operation during scheduled breaks and meal periods as part of the standard broadcast workflow.
• Adapt shot execution in real time when breaking news alters the rundown or director calls audible changes mid-broadcast.
• Contribute to SOP documentation, show reports, and workflow notes that keep the camera department running consistently across shifts.
• Troubleshoot technical issues on the floor in coordination with engineering and production teams before and during air.

What You Bring

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience as a camera operator, with direct JIB and handheld credits in broadcast television or live production preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to execute clean, composed shots under the time constraints of live news production.
• Availability to work flexible hours including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays as the news schedule requires.
• Current membership in IATSE, or willingness to join as a condition of employment, as this is a union position governed by a collective bargaining agreement.
• Strong communication skills and an organized, methodical approach to managing equipment and adapting to new workflows quickly.

Why This Role

KTLA is one of the most established local broadcast television stations in Los Angeles, with a production environment that keeps experienced camera operators working across a range of formats week to week. Tribune Media Company offers a base rate of $50.10 per hour, plus a JIB upgrade for hours specifically worked on the JIB, with total compensation commensurate with experience and skill level. For a camera operator looking to stay active in the broadcast television space with a recognized station, this is a substantive gig with real production volume behind it.

Apply now for the PT JIB and Handheld Camera Operator role at Tribune Media Company and bring your broadcast camera experience to one of Los Angeles’s leading news operations.