Overnight/Live Broadcasting Supervising Editor, Morning Edition & Up First

NPR; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 145,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

NPR is seeking an Overnight/Live Broadcast Supervising Editor in Washington, DC, to lead the production team for Morning Edition and Up First. You will edit scripts, coordinate live control room operations, and craft coverage with hosts, guests and reporters to ensure top-quality journalism.

The role requires managing staff, mentoring editors, and making rapid editorial decisions during breaking news, with a schedule roughly 11:30pm–8:30am ET Sunday–Thursday. On-site position.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience managing direct reports in a newsroom or operation.
• At least 5 years of experience writing and editing broadcast journalism content.
• At least 5 years of experience producing daily news journalism content for a national or international news organization.
• Experience with audio production and mixing techniques.
• Experience working in a live control room.
• Familiarity in another written language such as Spanish or Mandarin.

Responsibilities

• Lead the show production team in bringing the live radio show and podcast to air.
• Manage the editorial operation of the control room during the live broadcast.
• Coordinate with teams for live updates for later news feeds.
• Work directly with show hosts, guests and reporters to prep, record and edit interviews.
• Line edit scripts for the live show while upholding NPR editorial standards.
• Make editorial and news judgment decisions during breaking news situations.
• Provide written and verbal editorial feedback to staff.
• Evaluate, develop, and manage staff performance.
• Collaborate with multiplatform news teams to maximize reach of show content.
• Participate in hiring staff.
• Cultivate diversity, equity, and inclusion in work and workplace.

Skills

News writing

Editing

Broadcast journalism

Staff management

AP style

Live control room

Project management

Editorial judgment

Communication

Interviewing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Audio production

Mixing techniques

Job description

Overview

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Intro to Position

Morning Edition and Up First are looking for a resilient journalist with strong news judgment, excellent writing skills and a willingness to work overnights as the Overnight/Live Broadcast Supervising Editor, managing a production team that executes what is needed to get the live radio show to air and the Up First podcast to publication.

Millions of listeners depend on Morning Edition and Up First to set the news agenda to start their day. We deliver the latest national and international news stories paired with analysis to put headlines into context. Morning Edition is a platform for accountability through interviews with government officials and decision makers who make or influence policy that affect people's lives. The show also features culture stories about music, movies and books that bring joy and provoke thoughtful conversations about who we are in this world.

The right candidate for this position is committed to daily news, and is eager to deliver the freshest, most important stories to listeners. They put the needs and wants of audiences first. They believe in the mission of public media.

As the Overnight/Live Broadcast Supervising Editor, you will join a team of managers who collaboratively lead news and editorial coverage of events in the U.S. and around the world for Morning Edition and Up First. You ensure that the show is at the leading edge of the conversation across a range of issues. Most importantly, you work directly with our hosts to edit and make final changes to the show before and while it is live on air to ensure we are broadcasting our best journalism and editorial work.

Duties for this position include assigning stories and segments to hosts, producers and editors; editing show scripts, crafting live coverage and breaking news plans; leading the control room during the live broadcast; finding guests and reporters to feature on the show when needed; monitoring news and responding with show coverage plans as needed; mentoring and editing producers’ and editors’ writing for stories and show segments; managing staff work schedules as emergencies arise; coordinate and collaborate with other newsroom editors, leaders and journalists on show coverage plans, projects; upload editorial standards and ethics as the lead show manager during your shift. As a manager, you will be assigned direct reports and are expected to evaluate and develop staff.

This is an overnight position with a shift scheduled from approximately 11:30pm - 8:30am Eastern Time Sunday-Thursday. Morning Edition is a 24/6 news operation. Successful candidates can work holidays and may be asked to temporarily change their work schedule to cover other show shifts and special assignments as needed.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.

Responsibilities

• Lead the show production team in bringing the live radio show and podcast to air, including the most listened to segment that airs during the 7a ET hour
• Manage the editorial operation of the control room during the live broadcast
• Coordinate with teams for live updates for later news feeds
• Work directly with show hosts, guests and reporters to prep, record and edit live and taped interviews for the show and podcast on a tight deadline
• Line edit various scripts for the live show while maintaining NPR’s editorial standards for all parts of the final product
• Make editorial, programming and news judgment decisions about edits and show coverage plans, especially during breaking news situations
• Provide written and verbal editorial feedback to staff on work
• Evaluate, develop, and manage staff performance
• Collaborate with multiplatform news teams to maximize reach of show content
• Participate in the hiring of individual staff
• Cultivate, promote and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in one’s work and in the workplace.
• Demonstrated awareness of intersectional identities and ability to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience managing direct reports in a newsroom or operation
• At least 5 years of experience writing and editing broadcast journalism content
• At least 5 years of experience producing daily news journalism content for a national or international news organization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with audio production and mixing techniques
• Experience working in a live control room
• Experience being the lead producer or editor for a radio or podcast show
• Experience editing news content for various platforms
• Familiarity in another written language other than English, such as Spanish or Mandarin

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience.

WORK LOCATION

On-site: This is an on-site role based in Washington, DC.

Required Skills

• Mastery in project management such as managing deadlines and time management
• Expert knowledge and demonstrated skill in news-writing techniques for varied formats such as guest interviews, breaking news, feature stories
• Mastery in AP style writing and editing skill for broadcast and digital platforms.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in writing and editing news copy for varied platforms including broadcast, podcast, social, mobile, newsletters and other digital platforms, especially during breaking news situations
• Proficiency in people management skills such as delivering constructive feedback, clear communication and conflict resolution.
• Proficiency in independent, problem solving.
• Ability to adapt and accommodate differing styles of editorial workflows and communication.
• Ability to negotiate and compromise.
• Professional communication skills when representing the NPR organization.

Job Type

• This is a full time, exempt position.

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $145,000-155,000 a year plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Benefits

NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to [e-mail].

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