A couple of Big roles:
Executive Editor, News
Oversees all news desks and beats, including desk editors, reporters and correspondents and associated production staff. Assures that the News Division is delivering timely and original stories to audiences on all platforms.
The Executive Editor supervises all desk heads and works in collaboration with the Managing Editor for Digital News and the Executive Editor for News Programming collectively driving the effort to create a multiplatform newsroom. In addition, the Executive Editor advises the Senior Vice President for News on major initiatives related to the News Division including staffing requirements, personnel performance, and all departmental expenditures for news coverage. The Executive Editor is responsible for managing all units within budget and assumes other duties as assigned by the Senior Vice President for News.
Essential duties:
- Leads a News division that embraces the highest standards of journalism. Ensures that News managers uphold the most rigorous articulation of news ethics, standards and practices.
- Insures that all coverage reflects NPR’s guiding principles of accuracy, fairness, completeness, honesty, independence, impartiality, transparency, accountability, respect and excellence.
- Advises Senior Vice President for News and the Chief Content Officer on overall news strategy and directs the daily editorial process in collaboration with the Managing Editor for Digital News and the Executive Editor for News Programming determining broadly which stories will be covered, by whom and for which platform(s).
- Oversees the editorial direction of NPR News by participating in the planning process and executing the editorial strategy to assure the highest quality coverage.
- Works with the Executive Editor of News Programming and the Managing Editor of Digital News on a daily basis to create superior coverage by ensuring that there is a focus and direction to content being developed and that there is coordination and collaboration across platforms and across News staff.
- Sets expectations for daily news gathering by leading a nimble, flexible and creative response to coverage.
- Oversees daily editorial conversations and meetings to insure aggressive and original reporting, effective communication, coordination and collaboration across all platforms.
- Builds bridges across the newsroom and fosters and implements new approaches to coverage and new ways to work together to create excellent, audience-directed content.
- Solicits and reviews proposals for new coverage ideas and makes recommendations to the Senior Vice President for News.
- Develops and fosters an open dialogue about our coverage and leads staff to think beyond the confines of their job description and their specific unit.
- Fosters reporting that sets an independent news agenda – drives news managers to generate original, enterprise and investigative reporting.
- Oversees development of major projects in News Division.
- Provides overall supervision of key newsroom leaders.
- Drives strategic priorities in News across all platforms.
- Leads futures planning so that NPR will set the pace for others to follow.
- Monitors News and Information content. Conducts regular sessions with news managers to evaluate and critique coverage.
- Advises Senior Vice President for News on programming, staffing requirements, performance highlights and concerns in a timely manner.
- Ensures that the productivity and performance of the News Division personnel is evaluated and recommends changes as needed.
- Identifies efficiencies and coverage needs and corresponding staff requirements.
- Infuses all aspects of Diversity across the NPR newsroom; including our coverage, setting our news agenda, staffing, and developing our team.
- Assists key News supervisors in managing all departmental expenditures.
- Works with News managers to help them identify operational inefficiencies, create an optimum budget and then operate within that budget.
- Reviews proposals for major reporting projects and approves all expenditures.
o Advises the Senior Vice President in the preparation of budget proposals.
- Works closely with the News Division’s Financial and Administrative Managers to coordinate department activities regarding personnel, administration, and planning.
- Assumes other duties as assigned by the Senior Vice President for News and Information.
- Undertakes special projects and assignments as required.
- Builds bridges with other departments that support the News Division, including Digital Media, Programming, Member & Program Services, Communications and NPR’s revenue and administrative divisions.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor of Arts required, higher degree preferred or equivalent experience.
Required Skills:
• At least 10 years journalistic experience at the national level.
• At least 5 years newsroom management experience at the national level.
• Proven track record as a journalist covering and/or overseeing breaking news coverage.
• Proven track record as a journalist developing and executing enterprise and/or investigative stories and coverage.
• Proven track record working with seasoned journalists and developing new talent.
• Demonstrated skills in managing large projects and team building.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
Preferred Skills:
• Broadcast experience extremely desirable.
• Digital Media experience extremely desirable.
• Demonstrated skills driving change and transition in a Newsroom.
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Senior Investigations Editor
The Senior Investigations Editor leads investigative, enterprise and accountability reporting at NPR for both broadcast and digital. The position works with dedicated reporters as well as beat reporters and editors across the division to expand and improve original, ambitious and sustained investigative work. The position drives the goal of improving and expanding enterprise and investigative reporting by working with both specially assigned staff and with beat reporters and editors across platforms and the division.
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Fosters coordination and collaboration across desks and shows to develop original reporting and special series.
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Leads the effort to improve and strengthen the current beat structure to expand the focus on investigative and enterprise journalism.
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Coaches reporters and editors across platforms in developing investigative and enterprise stories and integrating digital and broadcast efforts.
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Brings considerable, national-level sources and contacts to the job.
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Upholds NPR’s guiding principles of accuracy, fairness, completeness, honesty, independence, impartiality, transparency, accountability, respect and excellence.
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Drives data driven and computer-assisted reporting.
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Oversees collaborations with independent organizations developing investigative stories.
Advises Senior Vice President and Executive Editor on staffing requirements, personnel and performance, and programming for enterprise projects and initiatives.
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Reviews proposals for projects involving more than one desk or program and approves all expenditures.
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Advises the Senior Vice President in the preparation of budget proposals.
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Works closely with the News Division’s Financial and Administrative Managers to coordinate department activities regarding personnel, administration, and planning.
Assumes other duties as assigned by the Executive Editor for News and Information.
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Undertakes special projects and assignments as required.
Education: Bachelor's degree required, higher degree preferred, or equivalent experience.
Qualifications:
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At least 10 years’ journalism experience at the national level.
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At least 5 years newsroom management experience at the national level.
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Proven track record as a journalist developing and executing enterprise and investigative stories and coverage under long and short deadlines.
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Experience with investigative work on digital platforms as well as traditional.
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Proven track record working with seasoned journalists and developing new talent, including the ability to coach.
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Demonstrated skills in managing large projects and team building.
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Excellent communication and writing skills.
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Proven experience directing computer-assisted reporting.
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A creative mind and an understanding of the mission of NPR.
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Willingness to innovate, learn new skills and create new ways to serve the NPR community on all platforms.
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Broadcast experience desirable
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Demonstrated skill driving newsroom wide collaborations
Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you. All applications must include a resume and cover letter to be considered.
NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development. NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Alvin “AC” Stowe was a 30-year veteran programmer in the radio industry. He began his career at his alma mater, Shaw University’s WSHA-FM. His list of stations include Top 40 G-105 and Adult Contemporary WDNC in Durham, N.C. He also implemented the format switch to Urban AC at WFXC & WDUR in Durham, which went #1 under his tenure.
