Lead our photographic storytelling efforts on mid and long-term project reporting across all NPR platforms from NPR.org to our primary social channels. The goal of this position is to, along with the Supervising Editor for Photography, serve as the newsroom’s leading voice on enterprise photographic presentations and as the primary point of contact on photographic issues for shows, desks and our engagement team. We expect the Projects Picture Editor to drive an endless conversation across the newsroom on the importance of visual journalism and to help raise the visual literacy of the organization. This role brings energy and sophistication to our visual coverage, thinking expansively about types of content and the best ways to deliver it.
- Plans digital photographic coverage of long and medium term enterprise stories: coordinates with shows, desks, and programming. Coordinates photographic projects with other editors and producers.
- Upholds the highest standards for the visual tone of our storytelling.
- Occasionally writes blog and social media posts.
- Surveys NPR broadcasts, news wires, competition and internal communications to make sure our visual storytelling is optimized and smart.
- Working with the Supervising Editor for Photography, develops and teaches a curriculum of visual best practices for our staff.
- As requested, occasionally handles news shifts: working on deadline and under pressure.
- Occasionally produces and/or writes web packages and original stories: works with shows and desks to initiate story ideas; researches and/or reports and writes; identifies and edits photos; creates multimedia elements; locates appropriate links.
- Works with producers to create multimedia elements: videos, audios, photo galleries, interactive elements.
- Occasionally assigns, develops and edits original stories from other NPR staff and from contract talent.
- Determines needs for rights clearances and permissions for acquired material. Acquires and files permissions and clearances.
- In the case of assigned material to outside talent, manages contract negotiation and filing (with supervision).
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills:
- Five or more years’ experience picture editing for the web
- Experience teaching others the principals of visual storytelling
- Demonstrated ability to innovate in visual web presentations
- Demonstrated ability to generate and execute creative ideas, to assimilate and organize large amounts of information
- Strong verbal communication skills
- Solid, independent news judgment
- Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness
- A steely, unshakable sense of journalistic ethics
- Ability and willingness to work off-hours shifts, including very early mornings, nights and/or weekends
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure. Incumbent must be able to edit photos for breaking news with speed and distinction
- Ability and willingness to relocate. In the future, NPR may choose to transfer employees to other geographic locations. Severance provisions of the AFTRA collective bargaining agreement will apply should you choose not to accept a transfer
- Proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system
Preferred Skills:
- Thorough knowledge of online writing and audio production
- Experience and skill with web publishing software
- Experience producing on digital audio workstations
NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development.