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Reporter, Northern Virginia (Reporter III) (12907)

Employer
American University
Location
District of Columbia, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Jun 18, 2021


Summary/Objective

Reporters in WAMU’s newsroom help carry out our regional news initiatives across broadcast and digital platforms. In consultation with newsroom editors, reporters develop sources and deepen and shape coverage for their assigned beats. Coverage will include breaking news, day- turn stories, explainers, two-ways, features and other enterprise work for both audio and the web.

The position requires curiosity, motivation, and a deep professional interest in local news. The Reporter should have strong editorial judgment and the ability to write quickly, clearly, and with a distinctive and appealing style. In addition to beat coverage, all reporters will maintain regular breaking news shifts.

This position focuses primarily on jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, playing a leading role in coverage of these communities’ politics, education, and other news. The reporter also has an eye on state politics, but focuses any coverage of Richmond on the ways it specifically intersects with our region. The role requires a Reporter who is particularly adept at prioritization and has a keen eye for the stories that will engage and appeal to Northern Virginians.

Essential Functions

1. Report and write news stories online and on air

  • Evaluate leads, monitor major news developments, and contribute story ideas, or receive assignments from an editor
  • Determine a web and/or broadcast story's emphasis, length, and format and organize material accordingly.
  • Report both at a desk and in the field; Collaborate with other reporters, as needed
  • Write multiple web stories and broadcast/newscast pieces per week, and regularly contribute features and enterprise work
  • Cover at least one breaking news shift per week
  • Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.


2. Produce stories

  • Produce web stories in WordPress, including finding images, writing headlines (with the help of an editor), and doing SEO work
  • Write tweets and Facebook posts for stories, as needed
  • Produce audio, utilizing field sound to create a sense of place and weaving appropriate sound bites together to paint a holistic portrait


3. Engage audiences

  • Engage with reader questions and feedback on social media and in DCist’s comment section, when necessary and as time allows
  • Participate in events, both internal and external, as a representative of the station and subject matter expert


Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
  • Full time
  • Sr. Coordinator/Analyst A
  • Non-Exempt
  • This position is covered by SAG-AFTRA


Required Education and Experience
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent
  • 4-6 years of relevant experience


Additional Eligibility Qualifications
  • Top-notch writing and reporting skills
  • Journalistic agility, or the ability to shift comfortably between writing radio scripts, online news articles, explainers, short and longer pieces
  • Sharp interview skills
  • Strong journalistic ethics
  • Experience building audience connections using social media and mining platforms for story ideas, angles, and sources
  • Willingness to try new storytelling methods, and adapt to changing platforms and audience needs
  • Ability to work collaboratively with others
  • Commitment to building and fostering an inclusive, encouraging, and diverse workplace
  • Creativity, flexibility and resourcefulness
  • Must be an effective and imaginative storyteller with a keen sense of how to shape content to suit different audiences--both on air (via local newscasts, live two-ways, feature stories, etc.) and online (via WAMU.org and social media platforms).
  • Must have a well-developed sense of how to create digital content that is compelling, sharable, visual, and impactful.
  • Travel required; minimal
  • Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check


Benefits
  • Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options


Current American University Employees:

If you are a current full-time or part-time staff member at American University, please log intoAsuccessfulU through themyAU portal . Once in AsuccessfulU, please select the Careers tile which will take you to our internal career page.

Contact Us:

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu .

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

Nearest Major Market: Washington DC

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