Production Assistant, Morning Edition West

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.

NPR's flagship morning news program Morning Edition and its podcast Up First are looking for an experienced Production Assistant to support Morning Edition's California-based host and team at NPR West in Culver City, California. This position helps produce program material for NPR's flagship morning show and daily morning podcast. The Production Assistant generates story and interview ideas, researches topics and guests, books live interviews and assists in writing copy for show hosts. The Production Assistant mixes pieces, pulls soundbites, assembles the podcast, and helps with breaking news. They establish on-air connections and troubleshoot issues. The ideal candidate is a skilled audio producer and accustomed to working under tight deadlines. They also have experience writing for digital and social media platforms. The selected candidate must be available to regularly work the overnights to bring the live show to air and willing to rotate across shifts when needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Supports Morning Edition's bicoastal overnight editorial and production teams.
• Works closely with Morning Edition's Culver City-based host overnight in preparation for, and during, the live broadcast.
• Supports the directing team and the line team with logistics and troubleshooting issues as they finalize the show for air.
• Edits audio for air, including both host interviews and reporter pieces, which often require complex mixes.
• Regularly works the overnight hours when Culver City-based host is on-air; rotates through other shifts, including early mornings and swing, as assigned.
• Helps prepare scripts and other material, with editorial oversight. This includes show opens, returns, tape and copy elements and interview briefs for hosts.
• Pitches story ideas and potential show guests.
• Works under tight deadlines to react to breaking and developing news.
• Assists with the production of Up First, with editorial assistance.
• May be given assignments on different platforms such as social media and digital.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS
• At least two years of experience in live broadcasting.
• At least two years of experience in news journalism.
• Proficient in production skills, including editing and recording; demonstrated ability to edit audio on digital editing systems
• Works on original journalism and enterprise stories generated by the show
• Pitches and produces newsmaker interviews
• Demonstrated ability to write news scripts on deadline with an emphasis on clarity, economy of phrase and a strong grasp of the rules of grammar.
• Firm understanding of journalistic ethics; experience practicing high journalistic standards, including accuracy, objectivity, fairness, and balance.
• Strong research skills.
• Assists in the production of daily podcast content
• Ability to collect, organize and communicate information effectively, especially across shifts using established workflow guides.
• Ability to handle more than one assignment at a time; ability to prioritize, anticipate and communicate effectively about assignments.
• 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.
• Ability and willingness to work overnights and varied shifts.
• Ability to relocate.

PREFERRED SKILLS
• Experience producing in studios and operating digital audio self-op facilities.
• Digital media skills, including proficiency in social media as a tool for topic research, news-gathering and audience interaction.

Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog. Get social with NPR Extra on Facebook and following @NPRExtra and #NPRLife on Twitter and Instagram. Find more career opportunities at NPR.org/careers and on Twitter at @NPRJobs.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rzkkv1-13-58-112-1-42 in your application.