Summary of the Overnight Live Broadcasting Supervising Editor, Morning Edition & Up First job at NPR

Application Instructions:

Please submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter please share your philosophy for leading a newsroom overnight in order to deliver the most up-to-date morning broadcast possible.

Intro to Position

Morning Edition and Up First are looking for a resilient journalist with strong news judgment, excellent writing skills and a willingness to work overnights as the Overnight and Live Broadcast Supervising Editor, managing  a production team that executes what is needed to get the live radio show to air and the Up First podcast to publication.

Millions of listeners depend on Morning Edition and Up First to set the news agenda to start their day. We deliver the latest national and international news stories paired with analysis to put headlines into context. Morning Edition is a platform for accountability through interviews with government officials and decision makers who make or influence policy that affect people's lives. The show also features culture stories about music, movies and books that bring joy and provoke thoughtful conversations about who we are in this world.

The right candidate for this position is committed to daily news, and is eager to deliver the freshest, most important stories to listeners. They put the needs and wants of audiences first. They believe in the mission of public media.

As the Overnight and Live Broadcast Supervising Editor, you will join a team of managers who collaboratively lead news and editorial coverage of events in the U.S. and around the world for Morning Edition and Up First. You ensure that the show is at the leading edge of the conversation across a range of issues. Most importantly, you work directly with our hosts to edit and make final changes to the show before and while it is live on air to ensure we are broadcasting our best journalism and editorial work.

Duties for this position include assigning stories and segments to hosts, producers and editors; editing show scripts, crafting live coverage and breaking news plans; leading the control room during the live broadcast; finding guests and reporters to feature on the show when needed; monitoring news and responding with show coverage plans as needed; mentoring and editing producers’ and editors’ writing for stories and show segments; managing staff work schedules as emergencies arise; coordinate and collaborate with other newsroom editors, leaders and journalists on show coverage plans, projects; upload editorial standards and ethics as the lead show manager during your shift. As a manager, you will be assigned direct reports and are expected to evaluate and develop staff.

This is an overnight position with a shift scheduled from approximately 11:30pm - 8:30am Eastern Time Sunday-Thursday.

Morning Edition is a 24/6 news operation. Successful candidates can work holidays and may be asked to temporarily change their work schedule to cover other show shifts and special assignments as needed.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.    

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the show production team in bringing the live radio show and podcast to air, including the most listened to segment that airs during the 7a ET hour
• Manage the editorial operation of the control room during the live broadcast
• Coordinate with teams for live updates for later news feeds
• Work directly with show hosts, guests and reporters to prep, record and edit live and taped interviews for the show and podcast on a tight deadline
• Line edit various scripts for the live show while maintaining NPR’s editorial standards for all parts of the final product
• Make editorial, programming and news judgment decisions about edits and show coverage plans, especially during breaking news situations
• Provide written and verbal editorial feedback to staff on work
• Evaluate, develop, and manage staff performance
• Collaborate with multiplatform news teams to maximize reach of show content
• Participate in the hiring of individual staff
• Cultivate, promote and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in one’s work and in the workplace.
• Demonstrated awareness of intersectional identities and ability to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds
• Other duties as assigned

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 3  years of experience managing direct reports in a newsroom or operation
• At least 5  years of experience writing and editing broadcast journalism content
• At least 5 years of experience producing daily news journalism content for a national or international news organization

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with audio production and mixing techniques
• Experience working in a live control room
• Experience being the lead producer or editor for a radio or podcast show 
• Experience editing news content for various platforms
• Familiarity in another written language other than English, such as Spanish or Mandarin

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience.

WORK LOCATION

On-site: This is an on-site role based in Washington, DC .

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Mastery in project management such as managing deadlines and time management
• Expert knowledge and demonstrated skill in news-writing techniques for varied formats such as guest interviews, breaking news,  feature stories
• Mastery in AP style writing and editing skill for broadcast and digital platforms.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in writing and editing news copy for varied platforms including broadcast, podcast, social, mobile, newsletters and other digital platforms, especially during breaking news situations
• Proficiency in people management skills such as delivering constructive feedback, clear communication and conflict resolution.
• Proficiency in independent, problem solving. 
• Ability to adapt and accommodate differing styles of editorial workflows and communication.
• Ability to negotiate and compromise.
• Professional communication skills when representing the NPR organization.

Job Type

• This is a full time, exempt position.

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $145,000-155,000 a year plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. 

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

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