Grand Junction Multimedia Journalist

Rocky Mountain PBS; Fruita (CO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision care

403(b) retirement plan with up to 3%

Supplemental life insurance

Flexible spending account

Vacation time off

Sick leave

10 paid holidays

2 personal paid holidays

Job summary

Rocky Mountain Public Media, based in Fruita, Colorado, seeks a Western Slope Multi-Media Journalist to expand coverage across western Colorado. You will research Grand Junction, shoot and edit for digital and broadcast, and produce two original journalism pieces per week while developing sources and collaborating with newsroom colleagues.

The role emphasizes multi-platform storytelling, social media presence, and strong ethical reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in journalism and deadline environments.
• Excellent skills in news writing and editing for publication.
• Experienced and adept in video production and video editing.
• Must have demonstrated expertise in using Adobe Creative Cloud software.
• Familiar and comfortable creating content for social media.
• A mix of demonstrated skills, abilities and knowledge may be considered in place of educational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Daily production of responsive reporting covering the Western Slope communities, including Grand Junction, and special projects around Colorado.
• Writes stories, shoots and edits video packages and photographs for multiple platforms.
• Develops beat coverage with a deep understanding of story mix and reporting anchored in consistent coverage of important stories and follow-ups for accountability.
• Grows coverage by engaging with communities and maintaining relationships with sources.
• Manages time across simultaneous short- and long-term projects and meets deadlines.
• Uses solid news judgment when recognizing relevant and engaging stories that serve our audience.
• Participates in DEI training and maintains high standards of ethical behavior when reporting.
• Shoots and edits video assets and collaborates on documentaries and social clips.
• Attends weekly editorial pitch meetings to stay updated and identify collaborations.
• Keeps track of travel miles, meals and hotel accommodations for budgets and grants.
• Maintains curiosity and creativity in trying new formats and projects.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Skills

News writing

Video production

Video editing

Adobe Creative Cloud

Social media content

Deadline-oriented

Broadcast journalism

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

Rocky Mountain Public Media, Inc. (RMPM) is the parent company of Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO Jazz, and The Drop. Over a million Coloradans turn to Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO Jazz, and The Drop to discover provocative and inspiring local, national, and international programming; find diverse viewpoints; score front row center seats to world-class performances; and experience lifelong learning opportunities every month. Rocky Mountain PBS, a broadcast and digital newsroom, seeks a Western Slope Multi-Media Journalist to expand our coverage throughout western Colorado. The RMPBS newsroom gives local Colorado stories the documentary treatment and produces reports that lead with impact and prioritize the experiences of our friends and neighbors across the state. Reporters in the RMPBS newsroom balance written stories and videos, work closely with one another and other public media newsrooms, and experiment with different storytelling formats and styles in order to do so. As a public media newsroom, RMPBS champions stories from underrepresented communities and doesn't shy away from complexity. We're committed to learning and growing together. You're an experienced reporter with a developed news sense and an instinct for which stories make great video features, which shine on social media and which require the kind of deep dive that only an investigation can provide. As a reporter, you understand how to cover a beat for consistent coverage and feel confident working with sources and meeting your neighbors. You understand how to manage your time and thrive in a newsroom that gives you the freedom to pursue your own pitches while meeting deadlines and story expectations. You're led by curiosity and enjoy asking questions. This full-time, Fruita-based role requires: Researching Grand Junction and its surrounding communities as a beat and developing original story ideas arising from on-the-ground reporting; Shooting and editing video for digital and broadcast audiences; Taking high-quality photographs for every story; Producing social reels, storybooks and posts related to your stories; Developing sources, gathering information through investigations and thorough research; Pitching and reporting two original journalism pieces per week; Participating in regular editorial meetings, training sessions and collaborations; Contributing to multi-platform publication of stories.

Work Environment

The Grand Junction MMJII will primarily work out of the Rocky Mountain Public Media office in Fruita. The MMJ II will also work in studio, editing and field environments. This position must be able to work a flexible schedule with occasionally long hours, including some evenings and weekends. Must be able to travel throughout the state and beyond, on occasion. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

The position requires the ability to lift and carry production equipment up to 50 lbs. The physical demands described here of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EEO Statement

Rocky Mountain Public Media embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. As such, Rocky Mountain Public Media does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Job Requirements

Researching Grand Junction and its surrounding communities as a beat and developing original story ideas arising from on-the-ground reporting; Shooting and editing video for digital and broadcast audiences; Taking high-quality photographs for every story; Producing social reels, storybooks and posts related to your stories; Developing sources, gathering information through investigations and thorough research; Pitching and reporting two original journalism pieces per week; Participating in regular editorial meetings, training sessions and collaborations; Contributing to multi-platform publication of stories

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for daily production of responsive reporting covering the communities of the Western Slope, including Grand Junction, as well as special projects around Colorado when required
• Writes stories, shoots and edits video packages and takes photographs for multiple platforms at Rocky Mountain Public Media in line with our mission of a Colorado where everyone feels seen and heard
• Develops beat coverage with a deep understanding of story mix and reporting anchored in consistent coverage of important stories and follow-ups for accountability
• Grows coverage by engaging with communities and maintaining relationships with sources
• Possesses mature time management skills and is able to manage simultaneous short- and long-term projects and regular deadlines
• Uses solid news judgment when recognizing relevant and engaging stories that serve our audience
• Actively participates in RMPM's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training program and maintains high standards of ethical behavior when reporting from the field and representing RMPBS to the public
• Shoots and edits video assets, including, as needed, working with production on full-feature documentaries, social media dispatches, interviews and others while following PBS, NPR, and FCC technical standards
• Collaborates with outside media partners and RMPM departments on projects and initiatives
• Attends weekly editorial pitch meetings to stay up-to-date on overall newsroom coverage, receive deadline assignments from editors and identify potential collaborations with colleagues
• Keeps track of miles traveled, meals and hotel accommodations for budget and expense reporting as well as monitors hours for work completed as part of grants
• Maintains a spirit of curiosity, experimentation and creativity in trying out new formats and projects
• Other tasks as assigned and/or required

Minimum Qualifications of Position

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or relevant field
• 3-5 years of experience in journalism and deadline environments
• Excellent skills in news writing and editing for publication
• Experienced and adept in video production and video editing
• Must have demonstrated expertise in using Adobe Creative Cloud software
• Familiar and comfortable creating content for social media
• A mix of demonstrated skills, abilities and knowledge may be considered in place of educational requirements

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision care
• a 403(b) retirement plan with the employer's up to 3% match of the employee's contributions
• supplemental life insurance
• a flexible spending account
• vacation time off
• sick leave
• 10 paid holidays
• and 2 personal paid holidays annually