POSITION SUMMARY
WPR’s news department seeks to empower Wisconsin’s communities through rigorous reporting that provides context, holds public officials accountable, and sheds clarifying light on complex topics. The Daily News Editor will take primary responsibility for shaping WPR’s daily news content to help us achieve those goals. This person will approve pitches, assign stories, prioritize reporters’ work and edit daily stories with the goal of ensuring that WPR delivers newscasts that keep the audience abreast of the most significant news of the day, provide unique and insightful information and represent Wisconsin's diverse communities. This person will also manage and mentor our two newsroom fellowships for early-career journalists. The editor may also work with reporters on quick turn features and host two-ways. The person will be part of a team of editors and managers who set the course for the department’s coverage and strategic goals. The editor may also file stories on an as-needed basis. This position reports to the News Director. The location for this position is flexible, and could potentially be based from any of our seven regional studios in Madison, Milwaukee, Wausau, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Green Bay, or Superior.
DEGREE AND AREA OF SPECIALIZATION
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field preferred. For those without a degree, 3 additional related years of professional experience required.
MINIMUM YEARS AND TYPE OF RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of five years full-time experience in journalism as a reporter and/or editor. Eight years if no degree.
- Excellent writing skills for broadcast and web.
- Proven ability to work in both independent and collaborative settings.
- Experience leading teams.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to work within tight deadlines and manage competing responsibilities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of journalism ethics, newsgathering and reporting techniques.
NOT REQUIRED BUT DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in public media.
- Experience mentoring early career journalists.
- Knowledge and understanding of Wisconsin news, culture, issues and personalities.
- Experience with document sharing and virtual meeting software (e.g. Microsoft, Slack, Google, etc.)
- Ability to operate digital production software, control boards and audio recorders.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES
- Provides editorial guidance for daily news coverage, including assigning stories, editing content, advanced planning and managing staff time.
- Assists with management of activities related to the strategy and operations of the news department.
- Stay abreast of developments in statewide news, maintains contacts on continued stories to ensure follow-up, and researches topic areas to provide and guide in-depth reports.
- Applies editorial judgment and maintains industry standards of journalistic ethics and excellence.
- May contribute content, including interviewing sources, writing stories, and completing other necessary production tasks to create news/public affairs reports.
- Collaborates with talk and digital content teams on daily news coverage and short and long-term multimedia projects.
- Manages special projects as assigned.
- Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of two newsroom reporting fellows.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Expected hiring range for this position is in the mid-60’s. Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications.
The person in this position will be required to comply with the Ethical Guidelines for Editorial Staff of Wisconsin Public Radio and Television listed here: https://www.wpr.org/wpr-ethical-guidelines, in addition to the UW-Madison code of ethics.
The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online at https://jobs.hr.wisc.edu by October 1, 2021. The job number is 239662. The following must be received for your application to be complete:
- Resume;
- A cover letter describing how your experience relates to the job duties and minimum and desirable qualifications;
- Samples of the broadcast scripts and/or web articles produced for three daily news stories;
- At least three professional references with titles, emails, and phone numbers (include at least one supervisory reference). References will not be contacted without your knowledge.
Questions? Contact: Erin Cook, Wisconsin Public Radio, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706; 608-263-0477; hr@wpm.wisc.edu.