Reporter/Producer

Ocean State Media; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

PTO

13 paid holidays

Job summary

Ocean State Media in Providence, RI is seeking a full-time, exempt journalist to produce coverage and storytelling with a community lens. The role involves engaging with Rhode Island and SE Massachusetts communities, developing sources, and delivering daily news across broadcast and digital platforms.

You will host listening sessions, pitch long-form stories, and collaborate across editorial, design, tech, and marketing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Digital Media or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5 years of experience in journalism, community engagement, or multiplatform content creation.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills across formats.
• Experience curating content across social platforms and using analytics to optimize.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities; manage calendars and deadlines.
• Collaborative team player with interpersonal skills; cross-functional collaboration.
• Familiar with digital best practices and social media trends.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-changing environment and learn new tools.
• Proficiency in languages other than English preferred.
• Familiarity with Rhode Island/SE Mass communities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Produce news coverage and storytelling through a community lens.
• Host listening sessions and community gatherings around RI and SE Mass.
• Build diverse sources to surface untold stories.
• Provide coverage of daily news for broadcast and digital channels.
• Generate ideas, pitch stories, and report long-form pieces.
• Produce or assist in written, audio, or video storytelling across platforms.
• Collaborate with teammates and outside organizations.
• Participate in regular on-air fund drives and fundraising activities.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of News & Storytelling.

Skills

Strong writing

Storytelling

Multiplatform content

Community engagement

Social analytics

Team collaboration

Time management

Languages preferred

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Digital Media or related field

Job description

Reports to: Director of News & Storytelling

Location: Providence

Position Type: Full time, Exempt

Compensation Range: $65,000 - $70,000

Ocean State Media is the locally owned and operated award-winning public media organization serving Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Formerly known as Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio, Ocean State Media was established in 2025 to deliver in-depth local journalism and community connection. We are reimagining what public media can be. We listen first, partner with our neighbors, and make space for meaningful conversation. Wherever you are – on air, online, or out in the world – Ocean State Media is there with you, informing, engaging, and reflecting Rhode Island.

About the Role:

Ocean State Media (OSM) is building a new model for statewide local media rooted in sustained community presence, participatory journalism, and trusted local relationships - particularly in communities historically underserved by traditional local news.

This position will play a key role in bringing our journalism and storytelling closer to the communities we serve.

What you will do:

• Produce news coverage and storytelling through a community lens. This will involve developing and participating in engagement strategies that will help Ocean State Media connect with communities across the region and amplify the stories and voices of Rhode Islanders.
• Host/participate in listening sessions, community gatherings and other face-to-face interactions with community members around Rhode Island and SE Mass. This position might be assigned to focus on a particular location or region of our coverage area.
• Build a wide array of diverse sources that you can use to surface critical untold stories.
• Provide coverage of daily news for broadcast and digital channels, including spots, interviews, features and videos, as assigned by editors.
• Generate ideas, pitch stories, and report long‑form stories on issues of interest or concern to the community.
• Ocean State Media is a multi‑platform news and storytelling operation. As such, you may be asked on any given story to produce or help produce a written story for our web site, a still photograph to illustrate the story, an audio story for radio broadcast or a video for social media or television broadcast.
• Collaborate with teammates at Ocean State Media and outside organizations as appropriate to expand our storytelling.
• Participate in regular on‑air fund drives and other occasional activities that are part of our fundraising efforts.
• Other duties as determined by the Director of News & Storytelling.

Note that due to the nature of community gatherings, this role is likely to often involve working weekend or evening hours.

Requirements of the position

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Digital Media or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5 years of experience in journalism, community engagement, or multiplatform content creation. .
• Strong writing and storytelling skills across formats.
• Experience curating and/or creating social content across multiple platforms, and using analytics to optimize.
• Excellent organizational, project‑management and multitasking abilities, able to manage calendars and deadlines across channels.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills; comfortable working across editorial, design, tech, and marketing teams.
• Familiar with digital best practices and social media trends.
• Ability to adapt to a fast‑changing environment, learn new tools/platforms and take initiative to make new things.
• Proficiency in languages other than English preferred
• Familiarity with Rhode Island/SE Mass. communities preferred

This job will be based in Providence but will likely spend a significant portion of time working from other locations around Rhode Island and SE Mass.

Benefits include generous health, dental, vision insurance and PTO as well as 13 paid holidays.

Ocean State Media is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) provider, committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.

Candidates should send a cover letter highlighting the work and life experiences they think most qualifies them for the position, a resume and references