Program Host
WMFE/WMFV
Orlando
,
FL
Application Deadline: Friday, Jul 21, 2023
Description
Program Host
Central Florida public media stations WMFE and WMFV are seeking a dynamic PROGRAM HOST for a new local multiplatform show. If you have the drive, energy, and curiosity, this is for you!
The Host will be the voice of the program with a live show airing initially twice a week. The show will include live and taped interviews, as well as produced features. The Host coordinates with the Senior Producer to research, plan, write, promote, produce, and host content on multiple platforms including broadcast, podcast, web, digital applications, and social media.
Annual Salary Range: $80,000 – 100,000
Position Detail
This new local multiplatform show will be launching in the Fall of 2023.
We’re looking for a versatile Host with professional experience who can create audio content with an engaging style, curious mind, empowered judgment, and journalistic values. WMFE/WMFV is committed to serving audiences not typically known as public radio listeners and bridging topics, styles, and ideas that would also attract and hold long time listeners.
The person we seek must sound compelling on-air and be capable of conducting interviews to a clock, able to interview guests in the field, and willing to plan with the show’s senior producer and station team members. We want this new program to be THE place for people in Central Florida to hear new voices, challenging interviews, a range of culture and viewpoints, and highly topical content.
The Host must be versatile and informed and able to process information and guest responses in real time. First and foremost, the Host should sound comfortable, credible, and fluid – the sort of audio presence people would look forward to spending time with. The ideal candidate knows what a show can do when news is breaking, how to smartly address difficult topics with nuance, where to find guests, and how to engage with them.
The program will be produced twice a week for broadcast and, with additional staff, anticipates growing to four days on-air in the next year. This show’s staff will produce daily digital and social media posts including promotion for upcoming content.
The Host, like all the broadcast professionals at WMFE/WMFV, must be able to run their own live board, edit audio exceedingly well, and have a great ear for what grabs and holds a listener.
We’re especially interested in hearing from candidates from Central Florida who understand the politics, people, demographic changes, and cultural influences that make this part of the country so interesting and worth exploring in depth.
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! We know there are qualified candidates who may have relevant skills and experience that don’t look exactly like what’s described here. If that’s you, please don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives.
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.
Key Responsibilities:
- Research, plan, write, produce, promote, and host local content for multimedia platforms that include radio broadcast, podcasting, web, digital applications, and social media.
- Coordinate and collaborate with Senior Producer to execute content delivery on various platforms.
- Host a live on-air radio program.
- Operate the broadcast console and related multimedia production equipment/software.
- On-air fundraising
- Public appearances and events
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications & Skills for Success:
- Live and recorded audio content experience
- A compelling, fluid, listenable interview style that’s able to ask both warm and hard questions when necessary.
- Superior news and information judgment
- Highly informed and always curious
- Commitment and demonstrated ability to listen to the Central Florida community, with particular attention to places and people that get little coverage or attention.
- Ability to quickly build contacts, sources, and relationships to help us uncover topics, ideas, and potential guests.
- Comfortable interacting with the community on behalf of the station at public appearances
- An empathetic and attentive listener
- Excellent audio editing skills
- Resilient, energetic, and capable of giving this your all.
- Superb team member, collaborator, and leader
- Ability to interact and connect with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
Preferred:
- Minimum 2 years of professional experience in a relevant field
- Public Media experience
- Bi-lingual (Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole)
- Radio experience
- Journalism experience
- Live and recorded multimedia producing experience.
- Good sense of humor always helps.
Location and Working Conditions:
- This position is based in Orlando, Florida, and if hired, the Host will need to reside in the WMFE/WMFV coverage area.
- WMFE/WMFV is a hybrid environment, but this job will require in-station, in-studio work with occasional work in the field or on location.
- There may be extended periods of working at a computer. This position must be available for meetings, training, events, and emergencies outside of normal working hours.
- Ability to work with colleagues in person and in hybrid situations.
- WMFE operates as a team. The Host will work with a senior producer, and the show is directly managed by the Director of Audio Content. The News Director, Director of Community Collaboration, and Digital Director will also be part of the collaborative team.
- All work is editorially vetted for accuracy, fairness, and adherence to WMFE/WMFV editorial standards. Feedback is frequent.
- The program and its team will be accountable to audience goals, the quality and listenability of the show, and critical feedback by staff and others.
How To Apply
To be considered for this position, please send an email to HR@wmfe.org with your resume and a letter of interest telling us why you’re a great fit for this position, why WMFE/WMFV is a great fit for you, and how you heard about the position. This position is open until filled, but applications received before July 14, 2023, will receive priority.
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 and Central Florida
Orlando is a diverse 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.