WCBU Reporter

Illinois State University; Normal, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement options

Tuition waiver benefits for staff and

Paid holidays

Paid benefit time

Job summary

Illinois State University’s WCBU Reporter role seeks a general-assignment reporter to write, edit, host, and produce news and other content across on-air and digital platforms. The position also oversees 1-2 Bradley University interns, supporting a hands-on newsroom environment.

The ideal candidate has strong journalism skills, knowledge of public broadcasting, and the ability to work with tight deadlines while engaging diverse audiences in Central Illinois.

Qualifications

• Three years total experience in producing radio/TV programs, social media, or journalism
• One year of experience in production/presentation of media content
• Experience at levels with comparable responsibility to Media Writer/Producer/Announcer I

Responsibilities

• Responsible for general-assignment reporting, writing, editing, hosting, and producing news and other programming for multiple WCBU delivery platforms (on-air and digital) as assigned by supervisor(s).
• Supervises 1-2 interns from Bradley University where WCBU is based.

Education

Bachelor's degree in mass communications

Job description

Title: WCBU Reporter
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: Radio Station WGLT

Job Summary

This position is responsible for general-assignment reporting, writing, editing, hosting, and producing news and other programming and content for multiple WCBU delivery platforms, including on-air and digital, as assigned by supervisor(s). This position is also responsible for supervising 1-2 interns from Bradley University where WCBU is based.

Additional Information

WCBU is Peoria Public Radio and part of the NPR Network, serving a mix of users who listen, read and watch. WCBU is based at Bradley University in Peoria and is operated by WGLT through an agreement with Illinois State University. WCBU is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News.

University Benefit Highlights:

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday / administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$40,190 - $52,221 annual

Required Qualifications

1. Any one or any combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) of the following types of preparation:
A. progressively more responsible work experience in the production and presentation of radio or television programs, social media, and/or print or online journalism
B. vocational training in radio and/or television production, journalism, social media, news or feature writing and/or announcing or closely related fields
C. college course work in radio/television, journalism, social media, news or feature writing or closely related fields
- 60 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
- 75 semester hours equals one (1) year and six (6) months (18 months)
- 90-semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
- 120 semester hours or a Bachelor’s degree equals three (3) years (36 months)
2. One (1) year (12 months) of work experience in the production and presentation of radio or television programs, social media, and/or print or online journalism in addition to the preparation required in #1 above.
3. One (1) year (12 months) of work experience comparable to that performed at the Media Writer/Producer/Announcer I level of this series or in other positions of comparable responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in mass communications, journalism, media management, or similar.
2. Experience as public broadcasting host, reporter or producer.
3. Knowledge of Central Illinois and statewide news issues and personalities.
4. Ability to gather information through interviews and then write clear and concise stories to engage an audience.
5. Familiarity with a wide range of current information in many disciplines touching on the public and cultural life of the nation and the local community.
6. Ability to provide summaries and overviews of issues and events as they develop in public discourse.
7. Ability to quickly absorb information and locate and synthesize disparate sources of data.
8. Familiarity with data processing skills, social media, media consumption, the internet, public records and documents, governmental bodies, and the community that the radio station serves.
9. Knowledge of generally accepted journalistic standards of objectivity, fairness, and balance when editing own work and the work of others, as well as working knowledge of The Associated Press Stylebook.
10. Ability to balance competing priorities and work on tight daily deadlines and longer term projects with a high degree of accuracy.
11. Ability to comfortably interact with the general public.
12. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
13. Understanding of best practices for using social media platforms to disseminate and source news stories.

Work Hours

Core work hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Effectively communicate on a daily basis.
2. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
3. Distinguish colors on a monitor
4. Move about in various locations across campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.

Proposed Starting Date

November 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume

Optional Applicant Documents

Transcripts - See Special Instructions section for additional options
Certification of Retirement Annuity

Contact Information for Applicants

Breanna Crippen
Human Resources
309-438-8315
[e-mail]

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at [phone].