Community Service Journalism Reporter

Job Summary

KUER, NPR Utah is looking for an enthusiastic journalist ready to connect with audiences in a deep and service-oriented way. This local newshound will tap into Utahns' curiosities about life in the Beehive State to answer questions, fact-check assertions, delight our community and seek out stories off the beaten path. The reporter in this role will write frequently, producing short-form, long-form, newsletters and social media, along with audio/video work. Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, digital audience development skills is a must.

About us

KUER serves Utahns with trustworthy news and information, expertly crafted stories and conversations and diverse voices from around our state. To provide this essential public service, we're dedicated to building an organizational culture that prioritizes collaboration. We seek a team that reflects our entire community, and we encourage the contributions from people of various experiences. We are committed to attracting and retaining a staff whose perspectives are heard and valued. This is essential to our success.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and wellness coverage
• 14.2% employer contribution to personal retirement account (401a)
• Free public transportation pass (Utah Transit Authority)
• Paid leave time
• Tuition reduction for employee and family members
• … and more

Responsibilities

• Prioritizes understanding what's important to Utahns; shares story ideas from the audience with fellow reporters and producers; proactively participates in the creative cycle of story and program origination with reporters, producers and the editorial leadership team
• Manages KUER News' relationship with Utah audiences online and sometimes in person to solicit, identify, research and pitch original coverage topics; builds trust with audiences, with an emphasis on seeking out various perspectives; records, writes, edits and voices reports across multiple platforms, including written, video and audio stories
• Serves as the lead author and voice of the next iteration of KUER's daily and weekly newsletter; curates KUER and partner reporting to feed the audience's curiosity; builds a reciprocal and engaged relationship with KUER's loyal audience; works with Digital Content Manager to increase subscriptions and newsletter engagement
• Adheres to deadlines and, in concert with appropriate staff, makes timely and effective decisions for breaking news; works closely with other staff and under the supervision of the editorial team in identifying, developing and creating journalism that supports KUER's overall mission
• Actively participates in KUER fund drives and represents KUER at community and station events
• Executes administrative duties related to their own reporting and community engagement to support federal and grant reporting requirements, source tracking and other station goals

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Broadcasting, or a related field, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); one year of previous professional experience in the news field; demonstrated oral and written communications skills; and an understanding of public media, multimedia journalism and radio broadcasting required. Production skills are needed to edit and record final story formats.

Department Specific Qualifications

• Three to five years of previous professional journalism experience with a willingness to grow and innovate
• Sound news judgment and knowledge of journalistic best practices
• Enthusiasm for creative storytelling that centers the audience, serves their needs and includes perspectives from across Utah
• Ability to identify stories and produce sound journalism from audience questions and conversations trending in the community or online
• Ability to explain complex ideas and processes in a conversational, accessible and entertaining way
• A portfolio demonstrating strong interviewing, writing, fact-checking and multi-platform production skills
• Previous professional multimedia journalism experience, including photography, video and audio
• Commitment to writing for and appearing on multiple platforms such as video, social media, radio and TV broadcast
• Strong organizational skills to manage audience engagement platforms while producing high-quality reporting
• Excellent communicator, team player and problem solver with demonstrated human relations skills
• Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality journalism
• An understanding of public media and AP Style

Preferences

• Familiarity with Utah culture and politics
• The ability to write and speak fluently in a second language