Description

About WHYY

WHYY serves the Philadelphia region with trusted journalism, eye-opening storytelling and intimate local arts programming. Our curiosity and commitment to this community is what drives our programming. It’s also what drives our hiring.

Below you’ll find an employment opportunity in the fast-paced setting of the Philadelphia region’s leading public media provider. The award-winning professional staff of WHYY sets the bar high in television, radio and online. Whether it’s preparing a program to air or a behind-the-scenes role in support, all positions are vital to continuing—and growing—our impact in our community.

WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about ourSocial Responsibility Program. It’s how we live.

About the Role

The Multiplatform Producer/Editor on the Community and Engagement Team is adept at producing and reporting news content across numerous broadcast and digital platforms. This role is focused on telling stories about and across our region’s communities, creating content with our newsroom’s community partners and helping to support the distribution of community partner content. This job is for a journalist who has beat reporting experience, an understanding of teaching and training, and solid producing and editing skills. The multiplatform producer will have work regularly publish across WHYY News platforms, including general assignment stories. In addition, the candidate will support the content creation of community and engagement team programming and partnerships. 

The multiplatform reporter may be assigned to report daily news stories, work on producing special projects and support overarching content creation on the Community and Engagement Team. The multiplatform producer may also host in person events and/or produce TV specials and digital projects as assigned. 

The multiplatform producer/editor has strong reporting and editing skills and is an enterprising journalist that is capable of developing, redistributing and adapting content for production across different channels. This agnostic approach to redistribution of content amplifies storytelling across platforms such as radio, web, podcast, social media and digital products. The candidate has experience with the aforementioned platforms. This journalist will assist community partners and staff with production and producing content, yet the multiplatform producer is able to report for on-air and online as well as be considered for additional content productions opportunities as applicable. 

WHYY News seek a solid producer and reporter who is audience-focused, multimedia savvy, and intent on contributing to the organizational effort to cultivate new audiences. News reports will primarily appear, but are not limited to, the website and radio broadcast.

The multiplatform producer is a self-starter and skilled journalist who excels at storytelling, pitching, writing and constructing narratives. The multiplatform producer may report special features for use on broadcast, programs and digital platforms. The candidate meets assigned deadlines, and understands the value of content distribution across multiple platforms and their story pitches reflect that effort. The candidate is skilled at connecting with audiences via community building and/or creating content that piques audience interest and consumption. The multiplatform producer has the ability to develop storylines that serve a broad range of both existing and underserved audiences. This position requires the candidate to work some nights and weekends as community events may take place outside of business hours.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Produce multimedia journalism that can be distributed to a range of broadcast and digital platforms. Capable of articulating the development of the distribution strategy for content and individual stories.

• Research, report and write stories that demonstrate journalistic excellence for all broadcast and website platforms. 

• Pitch in-depth and impactful story ideas at news and planning meetings.

• Develop news and feature stories that have impact. Conduct interviews with a range of sources.

• Perform editing and voice work to prepare for production of an audio piece.

• Coordinate, co-produce and/or host special projects on various platforms – digital, radio and TV

• Cultivate new contacts with sources and newsmakers that reflect the diversity across the Philadelphia region. 

• Work collaboratively with other reporters, news department staff and community team partners. Share information and story ideas. Work with colleagues and community partners to improve their content distribution of their work across platforms. 

• Support the production of general assignment reporting and be available to pitch in as needed.

• Produce stories for publishing on the website.

• Take still photos and videos for web use as applicable.

• Advanced knowledge of the Associated Press Style.

• Be available to work nights and/or weekends as news breaks on the beat and/or per the news cycle, if breaking or major news happens. Be able to fill in on general assignments per department scheduling needs. 

• Meet short and long-term deadlines as assigned.

• Use social media to cultivate contacts and promote work.

• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: A college degree in journalism or equivalent is required.

Experience: Minimum five years of experience as a journalist. Producing skills, beat reporting and strong news writing experience across multiple platforms is required, including script writing, news writing and broadcast/digital production. Examples may be requested. In addition, radio and audio experience is preferred, but the candidate will be trained on radio production if needed. The candidate must have beat reporting experience and editing experience is a plus. 

Technical Skills: Experience with Microsoft Office software is required and ability to use website search and be trained on content management systems and tools, such as Airtable. Knowledge of audio editing software and equipment (AudioVault, iNews, e-filing from the field, voicing spots from the editing booth, etc) is preferred.

*This position is represented by SAG-AFTRA.

*This is a grant funded position, and at present funded until 12/31/24.

*All WHYY employees are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Proof will be required upon hiring.