Health Reporter

WMFE Community Communications
Orlando , FL

Application Deadline: Monday, Jun 06, 2022

Description

Central Florida public media stations WMFE and WMFV are seeking an experienced full-time Health Reporter who has a passion for following health trends and their impact on our community.

Do you have experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance, and fairness?  Are you a collaborative team player interested in working in an inclusive, welcoming workplace? Are you excited about working with passionate professionals in an organization that embraces its 40 year-history while also embodying the spirit of a startup?

If so, we want to meet you!

Who We Are
WMFE and WMFV provide Central Florida with journalism and fact-based content that empowers the community to better understand and participate in our diverse and complex world. We serve Central Floridians who seek unbiased, factual, truthful information and nuanced discussion — people who share a common curiosity and concern about the complex issues and challenges facing our community, nation, and world. We consider our workforce to be our most important asset, and we value our people both as team members and as individuals.

The stations are operated by Community Communications, Inc., based in Orlando. We are the primary providers of NPR and public media content in east Central Florida. We offer a full benefits package including health insurance, 401k and generous paid time off. We embrace flexibility and offer remote work options for most positions.

Position Summary
The Health Reporter covers a wide range of health care and related issues in the state and region. The reporter investigates, writes, and produces stories on health-related topics, legislation, public policy, insurance and the uninsured, as well as public health. The successful Health reporter is someone who has a passion for following health trends and their impact on our community, uses data to add context and has the skillset and ambition to take on investigative work. You must have exceptional judgment and understand the value of including diverse voices of real people in your work. An understanding of regional, national, and international news is also necessary for success in this role. This position is based in Orlando, Florida; the Health Reporter must reside within WMFE/V’s coverage area.

Key Responsibilities: 

Research, write and produce digital and audio journalism. Research and write succinct, relevant, timely health news for broadcast and digital distribution. Incorporate data analysis with compelling storytelling as a means of producing impactful journalism. Accurately write and produce health news stories and long form feature reports as part of station’s newsroom and collaborative efforts. Monitor AP news wire and other sources and report on stories as they emerge.  A portion of this job will also include general assignment reporting.

Collaboration. Collaborate with editors to monitor, update, and prioritize digital and on-air news content, using local, national, and international resources.  Actively consider, propose, and implement strategies to strengthen each day’s news content. Also, collaborate with external resources to keep abreast of health news and trends and share content and ideas.

Station fundraising.  Participate in membership pledge drives and support the station with fundraising activities throughout the year.

Annual Salary Range: $46,000 – $60,000

Qualifications & Skills for Success: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism or equivalent experience required.
  • At least three years of experience as a journalist.
  • Understanding of journalistic ethics. Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of balance and fairness.
  • Demonstrated ability to articulate and present verbally and in writing.
  • High degree of independent thinking and self-responsibility.
  • Self-motivated, outgoing and ability to meet deadlines and achieve results.
  • Ability to work within an inclusive, collaborative team environment.

How to Apply
To be considered for this position, please send an email to HR@wmfe.org with your resume, three of your best work samples, and a letter of interest telling us why you’re a great fit for this position, why WMFE is a great fit for you, and how you heard about the position. This position is opened until filled, but applications received before June 6 will receive priority.

Location and Working Conditions

This position is based in Orlando, Florida. The incumbent should reside in Central Florida, but remote work (i.e., work from home) options are available.

While journalists can conduct interviews in-studio and from home, it’s important that they spend a substantial amount of time in the community and collecting in-person and scene audio. There may be extended periods of working at a computer. This position must be available for meetings, trainings, events, and operational emergencies outside of normal working hours.

WMFE / Community Communications, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

About Orlando & Central Florida

Orlando is a diverse and welcoming city with beautiful parks and neighborhoods, vibrant food, arts, and sports scenes, and a strong sense of community. For outdoor enthusiasts, we’re less than an hour from the beach, and we’re surrounded by beautiful lakes, natural springs, and rivers for kayaking, diving, tubing, hiking, and more. We also have a few theme parks you might’ve heard of! Our average high temperature in January is 72 degrees, and contrary to popular belief, our average high in the summer is only 92. Let us show you why Central Florida is a great place to call home.

For additional information about this position, please contact: