Assistant Podcast Producer

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.

The Indicator from Planet Money is looking for an assistant producer who can help us cover unusual and counterintuitive angles on the economics stories of the day. You don’t have to be an econ nerd, but we are looking for someone who is interested in the way economics governs all aspects of our lives. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, who can deepen and broaden our coverage and inform our audience about the way economics affects the full panoply of individuals and communities.

The Indicator is a daily show, which means we need an assistant producer who can cut tape at lightning speed, on deadline and within defined time limits. Someone with a honed sense of humor and an ear for great tape, who can make hard calls under time pressure to produce the most engaging, informative and data-rich audio programming about economics and business that it’s possible to hear in the market today. Someone who is predisposed to handling adversity with a smile, and interacting with colleagues with politeness and courtesy.

We get into the field when we can, so we’d like to hear from people with field production experience. It’s difficult to get out of the office right now, of course, and as a result we’re also looking for someone who can book and interview subjects, with a view to gathering tape that hosts can use in our shows. Applicants should be comfortable using a variety of communication platforms, and particularly with interviewing people over the phone. We’re looking for someone who can source interesting subjects and who doesn’t shrink from asking hard questions, about money and about emotions. We want someone with a track record of gathering compelling tape that listeners connect with and want to hear more of.

The assistant producer should have some understanding of and facility with social media, and who can approach that aspect of news gathering and distribution in an innovative way; someone who can grow that audience in size and diversity, and who can help us find the best and most useful way to interact with those followers.

As you might expect from an economics show, we live and die by the data. As a result, fact-checking is a big part of this job. We’re looking for someone who’s comfortable with dealing with numbers, and has a watchful eye for detail. And who’s not afraid of either pointing out or correcting errors when they occur.

We are a small but vibrant team on the Indicator. We work hard and fast, and we have a lot of fun producing our show. If you think you’d enjoy doing what we do, we’d love to hear from you. When you apply through the NPR website, tell us your three favourite shows. Let us know what you think makes them special, and what you might have added to make them even better.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Find & produce original story ideas on a tight deadline.
• Suggest and book guests for hosts to interview.
• Prepare stories and approaches for interview; often conduct those interviews yourself.
• Mix podcast episodes using digital audio editing software.
• Write web and social media posts.
• Reply to social media comments and listener questions.
• Think strategically about audience development across platforms, and work to execute that strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

REQUIRED SKILLS
• At least four years of audio production experience.
• Audio editing experience in ProTools or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience in finding and pre-interviewing subjects for interview.
• Proven facility in sourcing and booking guests for a podcast, radio or TV show, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to work quickly and efficiently on deadline pressure, while maintaining a positive mental attitude.
• Ability and willingness to relocate. 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.
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts.
• 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 relocate. 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.
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts.
• 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.

PREFERRED SKILLS
• Experience in developing and executing social media strategies.
• Video editing skills.
• Academic background in economics, or work experience in finance, economic policy, or any other fiend covered by Planet Money.
• Reporting skills.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gpznod-18-217-220-114-42 in your application.