This is a new position that reflects NPR’s increased commitment to public service and investigative journalism. We are looking for an experienced editorial leader, who not only is a superb editor with a track record of breaking important stories, but also an endlessly enthusiastic teacher, encourager and proselytizer for public service journalism. In addition to overseeing NPR’s award winning investigative unit, the successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening the culture of enterprise reporting across NPR’s newsroom, while also working with NPR Member stations to help them deepen their commitment to public service and accountability journalism in their local communities.
The Director of Public Service Journalism will strive to elevate public service and accountability journalism within the NPR newsroom and across the country. This includes overseeing NPR investigations across the newsroom, partnering with Member stations on public interest stories and investigations, elevating data and FOIA efforts nationally, and supporting public media efforts in service of the First Amendment. S/he will:
- Oversee NPR’s expanding department dedicated to investigative reporting, developing stories that will affect change and deepen engagement with our audiences.
- Direct and edit some of our most high-profile investigations, while also coaching other editors on their team to develop and execute investigative pieces
- Lead the NPR newsroom to spot and develop timely investigations off the news, in partnership with desk heads and reporters.
- Collaborate with NPR shows and digital to determine the most effective strategy for distributing and amplifying our public service work
- Significantly build on collaboration with Member stations as part of the Collaborative Journalism Network in public radio with an emphasis on strengthening capacity for more public service journalism across the public radio system
- Partner with Member stations to develop stories and investigations in local communities that could affect change, and/or have national implications
- Partner with our training team to develop curriculum for the NPR newsroom and member station on best practices on data, software and FOIA.
- Partner with development on efforts to land gifts dedicated to public service journalism
- Provide regular and constructive feedback and career development for performance evaluations.
- Hire and develop a diverse staff.
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.