News Director
WYSO Public Radio
Yellow Springs
,
OH
Application Deadline: Thursday, Oct 31, 2019
Description
WYSO Public Radio, the NPR affiliate for Greater Dayton, Ohio, is on a dynamic path of growth and change, having just transitioned from university ownership to community ownership. On the air since 1958, we’re a funky, hybrid format, with independent news and music; and our professional staff collaborates with community members to make over 40 hours of local content every week.
The next step in our growth is to hire a News Director.
Overview
The News Director will be a visionary journalist and leader who will help build a stronger newsroom from the ground up. Now that WYSO is independent and has control over our finances, we can direct those resources where they are most needed to build capacity. The current newsroom team of three full-time staff is small but mighty and includes a Morning Edition Host / Reporter, All Things Considered Host / Reporter, and Managing Editor, who also reports. The newly created News Director position will replace the Managing Editor position.
WYSO seeks a News Director who will guide our future growth. Our vision for the newsroom, as set forth in our strategic plan, is “to increase the output and the quality of local news stories, features and programs on WYSO, both on air and online. We will add news reporters and editors to our staff and strengthen the culture of journalism at WYSO. This will allow us to achieve our mission to give voice to our local community.”
This is an exciting time to join our team.
Responsibilities of the News Director
Core Responsibilities:
- Manage day-to-day operations of the News Department including staffing, scheduling, editing, training, story development, idea generation and assignments for enterprise reporting, news collaborations and online reporting/news delivery.
- Supervise newsroom staff and assign news coverage; supervise all editorial decisions related to news coverage. Serve as a mentor for newsroom staff to ensure they build capacity and competency.
- Edit news stories before they are aired or posted online for clear, factual, concise and fair reporting that adheres to the highest journalistic standards.
- Work with WYSO reporter/producers to help shape their stories, guiding their reporting from pitch to air and ensuring editorial quality throughout the process. Nurture reporter/producers’ talents to help them flourish and grow as journalists and producers.
- Write news stories for online audiences and be familiar with current and emerging digital/online technologies.
- Train interns in journalism, reporting, interviewing and editing standards.
- Represent WYSO by attending station events and actively participating in station fundraising, both on and off the air.
- Pitch local news stories with national appeal / influence to NPR.
Responsibilities as Needed:
- Cover local and national news stories, such as interviews, spots and long-form feature stories; file newscast spots and features to NPR News.
- Host local news programming, newscasts and special programming.
- Operate standard broadcast equipment and radio automation software used to record, edit and deliver news content. Operate equipment in the field to gather audio.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- A four-year degree in journalism or equivalent field of study
- Minimum five-eight years full-time professional experience in journalism — preferably in a multiplatform news environment.
- Deep knowledge of public media news programming ethics, standards and values.
- Passion for public radio and our public service mission.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with strong interpersonal skills.
- Understand and uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and ethics in reporting.
- Be a fast, clear and capable writer who is familiar with AP style.
- Knowledge of on-air and online techniques/procedures, protocols, and standards.
- Experience in broadcast production, web content, news writing, and editing.
- Detail-oriented, able to meet daily deadlines under potentially stressful conditions and deal effectively with multiple competing tasks.
- Ability to supervise and develop employees, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Track record of producing breaking news and enterprise stories with impact.
- Broad knowledge of local and regional issues affecting Ohio communities.
- Knowledge of budget preparation, cost estimating, monitoring, and fiscal management principles and procedures.
- Interest and knowledge in podcasting and other on-demand, digital platforms.
Salary and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, dental, vision; HSA contributions; and 403B matching.
About WYSO
WYSO enjoys strong support from listeners and local businesses. Over 70,000 listeners tune in every week, and thousands more regularly interact with our website. Our revenues have nearly doubled in the last seven years. We have 13 full-time staff, and that number will continue to grow.
WYSO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and persons who are physically challenged or with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Diversity is one of our core values.
About Dayton
Dayton, Ohio, where once upon a time two brothers who ran a bicycle shop dreamed up powered flight, continues to be a place where good ideas grow into reality. It’s a city busy reinventing itself. This twin sense of possibility and reinvention makes it a great place to live, in our opinion. WYSO is a beloved and respected member of this community because we give voice to the people, organizations and musicians that call Dayton home. Although we’re proud to share national and international stories from NPR, the BBC and others, it’s the creation of local content that drives everything we do.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Business Manager Art Boulet at aboulet@wyso.org. Review of applications will begin immediately.