Join the team that produces NPR’s afternoon flagship program, All Things Considered. From breaking news to long-form storytelling, we bring relevant and thoughtful news coverage to our audience daily. If you are curious and love the adrenaline of a daily news broadcast, we want to hear from you. The Senior Editor is a key editorial position responsible for the integrity and quality of the daily program. As Senior Editor you edit the daily show including host interviews, reported stories and other content for the broadcast. You are a writer with flair and accuracy able to meet tight daily deadlines. The Senior Editor is part of ATC’s core leadership team and is involved in planning daily coverage while ensuring the program meets NPR’s standards for accuracy, fairness and balance. You work closely with four of the best hosts in public radio, as well as with the show’s supervisory, editorial and production staff. A minimum of eight years’ journalism is required and candidates will have broadcast experience. This position is based in Washington, DC
Performs the duties of Senior Editor, editing program and planning coverage.
- Edits host interviews, reported pieces and other program content
- Writes and produces content for program as needed
- Copy edits daily program
- Tracks ongoing flow of news and recommends specific stories and areas of coverage
- Sets up and prepares interviews for hosts
- Works with program producers to ensure consistent and balanced coverage
Works in conjunction with show managers and appropriate Desk Editors to make assignments and provide editorial guidance to reporters and production staff.
- Reviews story recommendations of production team and other contributors to determine assignments
- Works with host and other contributors to determine proper approach to stories, subjects to be discussed and treated, individuals to be interviewed
- Monitors show for overall balance, variety of stories and types of pieces
- Assists in providing guidance on length and style of program segments
- Assists host and staff in establishing contacts for interviews and stories
- Assists in future planning, series planning and the development of host projects
Assists Supervising Producer in preparation of on-air material and is responsible for editorial integrity and quality of air product.
- Ensures that all materials aired meet NPR program standards and practices, including standards of fairness, objectivity, and balance.
- Assists host and reporters in organizing and focusing their stories.
- Edits stories for continuity, integrity of journalism, quality of writing, manner of presentation, and consistency of style.
Monitors programming and provides critiques.
- Monitors reporter pieces and host interviews, especially those to which he/she is assigned, in a consistent manner.
- Regularly furnishes critiques of individual pieces, interviews and other material for broadcast in personal meetings with staff and contributors.
Produces in the field with hosts.
- At least eight years’ journalism experience, including national journalism and administrative/editorial experience.
- Thorough knowledge of news and feature reporting techniques and demonstrated writing ability.
- Considerable skill in both news and feature editing.
- Daily news experience.
- Demonstrated skill in oral presentation.
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure. Incumbent must be able to edit breaking news stories.
- Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness.
- 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.
- Demonstrated understanding of sound organizational development, management and supervisory principles.
- Ability and willingness to work varied shifts.
- Ability 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.
Preferred Skills:
- Broadcast experience strongly preferred.
- Radio broadcast experience extremely desirable.
- Knowledge of basic and advanced principles of audio production for information and news programming.
- Experience with the type of audio production done at NPR.
- Thorough knowledge of broadcast writing.
- Experience in online journalism.
- Experience producing on digital audio workstations.
- Experience working in and/or knowledge of public radio and the public radio system.
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.