General Assignment Reporter – Temporary
WYPR
Baltimore
,
MD
Application Deadline: Friday, Dec 30, 2022
Description
WYPR is seeking a temporary full-time general assignment reporter to cover news and culture in Baltimore through December 2023. The ideal candidate would have experience and a passion for keeping honest those who make the laws in our state and a desire to cover the 2023 Maryland legislative session. We are looking for a journalist with an intense curiosity who can paint a portrait with their reporting and writing that is the hallmark of public radio. You will have the support to grow and immerse yourself in this beat. You will develop a wide variety of sources to include community leaders, religious leaders, politicians, youth mentors, artists, and other change makers. You will bring to life stories of people affected by gentrification, redlining, neighborhood under-investment and crime. But you will also cover the narratives of those who are helping their neighbors navigate the bureaucracy of city hall to raise their voices. Baltimore is a city with a declining population, but one that is also seeing an infusion of newcomers, younger residents from the Washington, D.C. metro region and the surrounding suburbs. The general assignment reporter will navigate Baltimore’s unique neighborhoods like a hidden treasure map to unearth unique stories that impact and inform. The beat will afford the reporter the ability to make great radio stories, shape coverage and collaborate across platforms. If you have deep knowledge about a niche subject, we would like to explore that as well. Above all the candidate understands the deeply entrenched ethical standards of public radio journalism that the devoted public radio audience expects.
Responsibilities:
- Develop story ideas and contribute to daily newsroom brainstorming.
- Write and report compelling stories about Baltimore that reflect and impact residents of the community.
- Engage community leadersto develop and tell well balanced stories that go beyond the surface.
- Broaden the scope and provide context to longstanding issues of crime, vacant housing and under employment.
- Contribute daily coverage, enterprise stories, and long-term projects.
- Develop beat sources and mutual trust and respect to receive scoops and break stories.
Experience Requirements:
- A minimum of2 years of demonstrated reporting an on-air
- A proven track record of reporting original, enterprise work.
- Adept at AP style.
- Strong news judgement.
- Excellent communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
- A proven track record oforiginal reporting and produced radio and digital stories.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Ability toconvey story ideas with clarity.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Ability totake, learn from and give constructive feedback.
- Teamwork and willingness to collaborate with others.
- Willingness tobe available when news breaks on night or weekends.
- A commitment to upholdingpublic radio ethics and journalistic
- Desire to fill in as podcast host when called upon.
Preferred Skills:
- Knowledge of Public Radio.
- Comfortable using social media to enhance reporting and promote stories.
Core Competencies:
- Change/Adaptability/Flexibility: Adapts to change that benefits Your Public Radio, is open to new ideas, takes on new responsibilities, handles pressure, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.
- Communication: Communicates well both verbally and in writing, promptly shares information and ideas with others throughout the organization as appropriate, has active listening skills, can negotiate and persuade as needed.
- Results Focus/Initiative: Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, accepts accountability, sets high standards and takes responsibility, provides leadership/motivation.
- Collaboration: Working collaboratively with others to solve problems, achieve common goals and positive results. Listens to others and values opinions. Is open with other team members and expresses disagreement constructively. Seeks opportunities to work on teams as a means to develop experience and knowledge.
Knowledge and Competencies:
- Identification with the mission and purpose of Your Public Radio.
- Meticulous sense of detail.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Active communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work with a wide range of staff and activities.
- Working knowledge of Your Public Radio programming and the services of the network is preferred.
- Access to a personal vehicle highly desired.
Professionalism: Observes work rules and practices covered during the orientation process and practices appropriate conduct as outlined in the Your Public Radio Handbook.
WYPR offers a competitive benefits package.
Applications can also be mailed to Business Manager, WYPR, 2216 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218. WYPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we are seeking and welcome diverse candidates. Open until filled. No phone calls, please.
The Organization
WYPR is a long-standing, reliable source of news, captivating programming and community engagement in the greater Baltimore and Maryland region.
The mission of Your Public Radio Corporation is to inform, connect and even challenge the listeners we serve in the metropolitan Baltimore area and the State of Maryland by broadcasting programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit to provide an unbiased perspective of the events of today and to enrich the minds and spirits of our audience.