Editor, Shortwave

Job Description

OVERVIEW

Across our organization, we're building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success.

What a time to be a science journalist. A pandemic swept the globe. Vaccines are coming to fruition in record time, only to get mired in worldwide equity and distribution issues. Climate science is catapulting ahead, attributing extreme weather events to climate change and outlining possible remedies. Society is reckoning with health disparities. Sub-orbital and orbital space flights are taking off. Meanwhile, we may be the only species of bipedal primates, but we are far from alone on this earth. Cockroaches. Lamprey. Axolotls. Archaea, we're coming for you next!

How this translates to daily life for this job: edit daily episodes and bring strategic vision to the show. The editor will help envision Short Wave's next move as it grows from its start-up phase to the next chapter and help expand Short Wave's range of topics and perspectives that we may be overlooking. We put a high value on the diversity of lived experiences among our staff and expect the editor to help further Short Wave's mission of bringing under-represented voices to the show.

So tear open a decade-old Twinkie, and help Short Wave maintain its position as a top science news podcast with a reputation for creativity, accessibility and diversity.

This position reports to the Senior Supervising Editor for Short Wave.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Embody the team values of kindness, consideration, inclusivity, diversity and equity.

Edit Short Wave's wide variety of episodes quickly and decisively, with insight, rigor and kindness.

Ensure every episode meets our high standards for audio craft, scientific accuracy, journalistic excellence, tone and substance.

Re-write stories alongside the host, producer and fact-checker as needed, including restructuring interviews, sharpening narration, punching up jokes and trimming episodes for time.

Work with the senior supervising editor to approve, sharpen or reject story pitches from staff and freelancers. Like everyone on the team, your supervisor is the senior supervising editor.

Participate in our collaborative group edit process.

Guide reporters and producers in deciding what scenes, information and tape to gather.
Offer direct, critical feedback with clarity and collegiality.

Help the team think through the big picture on where the podcast should be, as it moves from its infancy to the next stage.

Have fun!

Who should apply? YOU, if:

You can take an idea and sculpt it into a clear structure.

You love dissecting complicated science ideas or topics, while always questioning, ''Why should I care?''

You find science stories in unlikely places, and characters and stories everywhere.

You like talking about arcs and stakes and pacing. And you like leading groups through those conversations.

You thrive on deadlines! You have experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of accuracy and completeness.

You know how to make an audience feel something.

You are skeptical, skeptical, skeptical: of science, its process, the cute study, the dramatic study, if your mother says she loves you...you get the gist.

You are editing this post right now.

You have a strong sense of workflow. You are able to handle multiple projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes, with changing priorities and conditions.

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.

Willingness to work a flexible schedule.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: College degree or equivalent work experience in some field of science, science journalism or science communication.

Required

Demonstrated knowledge and well developed curiosity about science news.

Ability to talk about complicated or technical things in a clear, balanced and intelligent manner.

Ability to lead and to delegate: to recognize what needs to be done and communicate what needs to be known.

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;

3+ years experience explaining complicated topics to audiences, as a journalist, writer, or science communicator

3+ years experience in a deadline-driven environment

Willingness to learn skills necessary to work on digital platforms; ability to adapt to changes in equipment, software and workflow.

Preferred

Expertise in some scientific field

Narrative journalism experience

Experience using some kind of digital editing software

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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gqme1z-3-15-235-196-42 in your application.