WILL Jobs

Specialty Reporter: Arts and Entertainment - Illinois Public Media

 

Job Summary
Host and produce newscasts during NPR's All Things Considered. Host and produce weekly show focusing on topical arts and entertainment events in Central Illinois. Help curate material for broadcast, web and social media. Also cover general assignment stories when needed.

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Serve as on-air local host and board operator of NPR’s All Things Considered, the weekday afternoon/evening news magazine. Establish rapport with listeners and deliver important information in a clear, concise, authentic, accurate and personable manner. Consistently deliver a professional, friendly and conversational on-air presentation that fits seamlessly into NPR’s All Things Considered. Prepare newscasts, interviews, sports, weather and other material for delivery during the program. Create interviews and spot news stories for air as well as IllinoisNewsroom.org and will.illinois.edu (including text, photo, audio and video). Keep up to date on issues in a variety of local and regional topics and connects national and regional stories to the local audience. Fill-in for other radio/TV show hosts as needed. Attend news meetings.
  • Serve as on-air host and associate producer of weekly arts/entertainment show. Pitch and produce 2-way interviews with studio guests who are part of topical arts and entertainment events in Champaign/Urbana, Danville, Decatur, Bloomington/Normal and surrounding areas. Work with show producer, audio engineers, News & Public Affairs Director, other reporters/hosts and contributors to include other segments like a weekly calendar. Also, produce snippets of the program that can air on Morning Edition and All Things Considered to promote the program.
  • Fill-in for other news magazine and talk show hosts as needed. Participate in pledge drive training and as pledge talent during fund drives. Participate in marketing activities, community engagement projects and other audience interactions as assigned on behalf of Illinois Public Media.


Additional Physical Demands
The specialty reporter is an essential position and may be required to be on-site when reduced staffing has been declared by the University of Illinois due to severe weather or other emergency-related circumstances. Some responsibilities will require the reporter to work in the radio and television broadcasting studios. The reporter should also be comfortable traveling to various off-site locations, greeting the public, and participating in meetings and conferences in various venues.

Minimum Qualifications
1. Any one or any combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) of the following types of preparation:

A. progressively more responsible work experience in the production and presentation of radio or television programs, social media, and/or print or online journalism

B. vocational training in radio and/or television production, journalism, social media, news or feature writing and/or announcing or closely related fields

C. college course work in radio/television, journalism, social media, news or feature writing or closely related fields

  • 60 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
  • 75 semester hours equals one (1) year and six (6) months (18 months)
  • 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
  • 120 semester hours or a Bachelor’s degree equals three (3) years (36 months)

Preferred Qualifications
Experience using social media to engage audiences
Experience and knowledge of standard newsroom practices
Experience meeting frequent deadlines and managing multiple assignments
Experience in news reporting or anchoring, broadcasting
Experience or contacts with Central Illinois arts and entertainment entities
Voice-delivery training

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • • Ability to edit audio with Adobe Audition
  • • Ability to add content to the website’s CMS
  • • Skilled at Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Access, and Lync)
  • • Extensive knowledge of local, regional and national current events and issues
  • • Ability to write accurately, clearly and concisely for broadcast and web
  • • Ability to operate audio recorders and editing equipment
  • • Ability to take initiative and work with minimal amount of direct supervision.
  • • Keen sense of news judgment and ability to make independent decisions.
  • • Familiarity with libel rules, social media policies and best practices and the codes of ethics adopted by Illinois Public Media

Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 4521 - Media Writer/Producer/Announcer I position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 3/28/2023. Salary is commensurate with experience.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS website at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on February 28, 2023. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted here will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Cassie Kenton, cass3188@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.