The Senior Director for Newsgathering Safety and Security is the critical person responsible for oversight and coordination of NPR’s safety of personnel in medium and high-risk assignments, both in the United States and overseas. This position also will have editorial responsibility of two reporters, assigning, editing them in addition to the broader security duties. This position will report to the Executive Editor, but work closely with the Chief International Editor, the Chief National Editor and Executive Producers of programs ensuring field assignments are planned with safety in mind and that while personnel are in the field all protocols are adhered to at the highest standards. This role will review completed assignments and apply lessons learned to future work. In addition, this person will be responsible for staying abreast of best practices for field safety in the industry and advocating for and implementing new approaches as appropriate. Coordination with other departments beyond the newsroom, including IT, Risk Management, and Finance is a small but important part of this role. Safety of newsgathering personnel is of utmost concern to the organization and this role is instrumental in ensuring our approach remains an industry leader.
In addition to editing two reporters on a regular basis, the person overseeing NPR’s security and safety protocols is charged with the following chief duties:
- Oversee and approve all medium- or high-risk assignments, ensuring that NPR reporters and editors have taken appropriate steps to mitigate known risks and follow best practices in the field.
- Lead the security team and all relevant staff on desks and shows (reporters, editors, producers) on regular and frequent security calls for medium- or high-risk assignments, or for those assignments requiring extra precaution or planning.
- Pre-approve the participation of individual staff members (reporters and producers) who are to be deployed on medium- or high-risk assignments.
- Oversee security protocols for all staff assignments on medium- and high-risk assignments while in the field, including daily check-ins, use of body armor, escalation protocols, proper vehicles, preferred modes of communication, proper use of social media, deployments of security advisers in the field, etc.
- Manage, direct, and consult NPR’s external security advisor for all security and safety-related questions, including consulting with other media companies, researching questions on field conditions, advising on shifting developments that may affect staff safety.
- Advise desks, shows, and individual correspondents on all security-related matters around deployments and assignments.
- Conduct, research, and write risk assessments for high-risk NPR assignments to be distributed to NPR senior management and stakeholders.
- Oversee the acquisition, maintenance, and distribution of NPR security gear (body armor, helmets, trauma and first-aid kits, etc) across bureaus.
- Organize, schedule, and supervise NPR’s Hostile Environment Training courses, and ensure compliance across the organization. Revise course curriculum as necessary.
- Provide Insurance Notifications for insurers for all high risk assignments or assignments to OFAC countries.
- Ensure that newsroom staff remain current with all NPR safety and security protocols, including Hostile Environment Training requirements, NPR’s International Travel form, and a Proof of Life forms ahead of assignments.
- Conduct after-action security calls to reexamine assignments upon completion and identify new or evolving threats for future assignments.
- Manage and coordinate 24/7 trauma support provided by CiC for NPR staff, including the Peer-to-Peer support network.
- Oversee and advise on information security protocols for staff on assignment or working in insecure environments.
- Organize, schedule, and supervise information security training for newsroom staff.
- Advise staff on proper use of social networking platforms and social media to reduce exposure to online harassment, surveillance, or monitoring.
- Coordinates with IT staff on cutting edge/developing issues re cyber security as it relates to field news gathering.
- Candidate should have at least 10 years of experience working as either a reporter, editor, producer, or in a variety of editorial roles.
- Collaboration across newsroom departments and with various managers
- Strong written and verbal skills.
- Excellent editorial judgment and editing experience
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- International Experience as reporter or producer in the field
- Work as reporter, editor, producer in a variety of editorial roles.
- Willingness to work unpredictable hours based on timing and location of field assignments that need coordination and oversight.
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Prior hazardous environment training
- Language skills other than English.
- Exposure to and/or development of crisis management procedures.
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.