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Reporter, Housing and Development (Reporter II) (17265)



Get to Know American University

At American University we value open and honest inquiry, servant leadership, and the affirmation of the human dignity of all. We envision a thriving AU community where individuals of all identities and experiences are understood, appreciated, and fully included, and where equitable treatment, opportunities, and outcomes prevail.

Our diverse community of students, faculty, and staff represent every state and more than 150 countries. Our internationally recognized faculty are today's thought leaders in the areas of public policy, law, the arts, communications, international development, and more. Our staff are innovative, service-oriented, and dedicated to moving the university towards achieving its strategic goals. We are committed to an excellent experience for all of our students, faculty and staff and share a passion for creating change through our knowledge and our work.

Learn more about American University by clicking here .

About the Department/Unit

WAMU 88.5 is the leading public radio station in the greater Washington, D.C. area, and DCist is our digital outlet for local news. We provide in-depth and enterprise reporting alongside essential daily news and information that aims to reflect and serve the diverse communities of our region. We believe in news as a public service and put our current and future audience at the center of our work.

Summary/Objective

Reporters in WAMU’s newsroom help carry out our regional news agenda across broadcast and digital platforms. In consultation with newsroom editors, reporters develop sources and shape 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.
Housing is consistently among regional residents’ biggest concerns, and this reporter covers a wide range of related issues and debates. This beat’s coverage areas include homelessness, efforts to expand affordable housing, the effects of gentrification and development on longtime communities, and public housing. This reporter will stay on top of related policy debates and discussions, as well as the broader intersection with economic development, without losing sight of the human-centered stories and impacts of this beat.

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.
  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 other means 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 - 35 hours per week.
  • Project Leader/Advisor B
  • Non-Exempt
  • This is a union-eligible position.
Required Education and Experience
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent
  • 3-5 years of relevant experience
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
  • Journalistic agility, or the ability to shift comfortably between writing radio scripts, online news articles, explainers, short and longer pieces.
  • Top-notch writing and reporting skills.
  • 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 methodsand 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 DCist.com, 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.
  • Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
  • To ensure the health and safety of our community AU requires COVID-19 vaccinations for faculty and staff. Click here to learn more about our health and safety directive.
Others
  • Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite.Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options .

Union Eligibility

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by SAG-AFTRA. That means the terms and conditions of your employment are governed by university policy (including the Staff Personnel Policies Manual) and any collective bargaining agreement entered into between American University and SAG-AFTRA.

Current American University Employees

If you are a current employee 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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