SARA THORNTON
Atlanta,GA
Summary
Media professional with extensive experience in live production, breaking news coverage, scheduling, quality control, and customer service. Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced environments while delivering high-quality content under tight deadlines.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
NFL Network Live Master Control Operator
Encompass Digital Media Inc.
12.2025 - Current
- Responsible for NFL Network Live Events, daily playlist building, routing, and operation of pertinent equipment in the network operations area.
- Live Event recovery at the conclusion of each event to return NFL Network playlist on time.
- Maintain on-air integrity and continuity during Live Events and server play out.
Technical Broadcast Specialist, NextGen Master Control
Warner Bros. Discovery
09.2019 - 04.2023
- Responsible for monitoring and troubleshooting all Warner Bros. Discovery’s (entertainment and news) streaming and linear (fiber & satellite) outbound broadcast video networks.
- Recovered any on air outages as soon as possible. Including making compression site switches quickly and precisely, to recover the downed signal and restore the network to viewers.
- Created tickets, troubleshot, and thoroughly documented on and off-air outages or QC issues.
- Monitored and Quality Control checked, live sporting events. (NHL, NCAA March Madness, NBA, MLB, Wrestling and US Soccer)
Media Operations Tech II
Cox Media Group
05.2015 - 08.2019
- Managed media preparation, fulfillment verification processing, schedule loading, issue recognition and communication for advertising sales office.
- Recognizing issues impacting the successful loading of daily playback schedules; diagnose and triage any issues to ensure that they are resolved prior to first scheduled event daily.
- Executed traffic instructions/ ad copy instruction in various formats, understand and apply instructions into the traffic and billing software.
CNN Digital Media Coordinator
CNN
03.2008 - 04.2014
- Coordinated, recorded, and documented all incoming CNN and affiliate content received by CNN.
- Digitally recorded and coordinated all incoming feeds, graphics, audio tracks, ISO’s, and airchecks.
- Led a team of 15-20 Media Coordinators while in the role of Video Manager.
- Coordinated, booked and field produced library video and still image shoots. Shoots completed include: US Army, Navy, Honda, Harley Davidson, Atlanta Detention Center, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Atlanta Police Department.
- Fact checked metadata.
- Documented, transcribed and live logged affiliate packages, breaking news raw video, high profile events and press conferences.
- Managed, processed, troubleshot and ingested FTP & DNG sent material onto servers.
- Archived media, maintained CMS database server space, and selected assets for deletion
- Managed CNN Images database.
- Monitored, updated and ran CNN App during testing phase.
Billboard Scheduling Coordinator
Turner Broadcasting
02.2006 - 03.2008
- Responsible for building all commercial billboard breaks and billboard traffic on CNN, HLN & Airport network.
- Made time sensitive manual log changes in CNN Master Control. Booked and processed all billboard traffic orders from CNN regional bureaus. (NY, LA, Chicago, Detroit)
- Simulcasted the Airport Network to correspond with the break structure of CNN & HLN Networks logs.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism, Telecommunications
University of Georgia
GASkills
- Media Production
- Quality Control
- Breaking News
- Live Events
- Library Content Management
- Customer Service
- Media Transmission
Timeline
NFL Network Live Master Control Operator
Encompass Digital Media Inc.
12.2025 - Current
Technical Broadcast Specialist, NextGen Master Control
Warner Bros. Discovery
09.2019 - 04.2023
Media Operations Tech II
Cox Media Group
05.2015 - 08.2019
CNN Digital Media Coordinator
CNN
03.2008 - 04.2014
Billboard Scheduling Coordinator
Turner Broadcasting
02.2006 - 03.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism, Telecommunications
University of Georgia
Awards
Peabody Award Certificate Recipient
CNN
- 2008 Presidential Primary & Debates
- 2010 Gulf Oil Spill
- 2011 Middle East Arab Spring