POSITION SUMMARY
The Education Reporter will cover K-12 schools and early education statewide, with special attention paid to Milwaukee. Wisconsin is home to the country’s first voucher program for private schools, urban and rural school districts facing enrollment declines and some of the largest achievement gaps in the nation between white and black students. It is also a place where schools are innovating and grappling with preparing students for a changing work world in a state where the working age population is shrinking. This reporter will have wide latitude to explore a system that has undergone significant change in recent years and faces unprecedented challenges. This includes reporting on what is happening both inside the classroom and out. They can also expect to delve into the field of child development and the science of learning.
The position is based in Milwaukee and reports to the News Director.
DEGREE AND AREA OF SPECIALIZATION
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communication or related field preferred.
MINIMUM YEARS AND TYPE OF RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
- Two years’ experience in broadcast journalism or related field.
- A track record of working independently to produce original journalism that breaks news, advances important stories or unearths underreported issues.
- Strong editorial and ethical judgment.
- Excellent vocabulary and articulation skills.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Previous public broadcasting experience.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepare news stories for use online, in newscasts, and during talk shows. This includes selecting appropriate sources, conducting and taping interviews, and writing scripts, billboards, and host introductory copy.
- Contribute daily to our website, WPR.org, and other digital projects. Collaborate with our digital content team on both long-term and short-term multimedia projects.
- Participate in news planning meetings to suggest story ideas and help focus story angles.
- Participate in on-air fundraising and public appearances/promotional events as requested. Participate in news division and statewide meetings.
- Operate control board and field reporting equipment; evaluate office/studio equipment needs; report electronics problems to proper staff.
- Maintain the standards of journalistic ethics and excellence described in Ethical Guidelines for Editorial Staff: https://www.wpr.org/wpr-ethical-guidelines.
- If needed, work on weekend and/or evening assignments and travel to cover regional and special assignments.
- Demonstrate respect in all workplace relationships and interactions.
- Effectively engage diverse perspectives and experiences in work product and in organizational interactions, including communication and decision-making.
- Take on other duties as apparent or assigned.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We expect to pay in the forties or fifties with the official title and actual salary dependent on qualifications and experience.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online at https://jobs.hr.wisc.edu by December 17, 2019. The job number is 200183. Please submit: a cover letter detailing how your experience relates to the job duties and qualifications for this position, a detailed resume, and sample(s) of your work:
- Writing samples that include spot news and a news-oriented feature.
- Links to demos containing three newscast-length stories (spot).
- One feature-length report (3:00-5:00) that you have edited and produced. Reporters with a print background may submit clips. Please do not send stories you have produced with the help of a national network. If you have an example of hosting or an interview, you may include that as well.
Applicants will also need to provide at least three professional references with emails and phone numbers (include at least one supervisory reference).
Questions? Contact: Erin Cook, Wisconsin Public Radio, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706; 608-263-0477; erin.cook@wpr.org.