Editorial Researcher

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 role of the Public Editor’s office is to foster greater newsroom transparency and accountability on behalf of NPR’s listeners and readers. The editorial researcher sits in the newsroom, but the office works outside the newsroom structure. Public Editor office employees are expected to maintain and build relationships with the newsroom, while remaining professionally separate and observing complete confidentiality regarding Office operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Label, synthesize and prioritize listener and reader complaints/inquiries that come in by email or over social media for greater transparency and accountability within the organization.
• Advise public editor on concerns raised by NPR’s audience that the office needs to investigate.
• Judge complaints using NPR’s own ethics handbook as a guide.
• Support research initiatives that will be used in response to those emails or social media complaints (including researching links to past coverage and pulling newscast scripts).
• Answer emails at the direction of the public editor.
• Prepare monthly reports for newsroom leaders.
• Prepare monthly reports that roll up to the CEO
• Produce and publish blog posts using NPR’s CMS: select and edit photos, fact-check blog posts for content, and edit for AP style.
• Pitch topics for blog posts.
• Conduct in-depth and accurate research into listener/reader complaints that the office will be responding to. This includes assessing NPR’s past coverage by tracking down reports, and/or working with NPR’s research team (RAD) to evaluate coverage, as well as monitoring ongoing coverage of various topics. Evaluate the topics as they relate to current industry debates over evolving journalism ethics and practices.
• Write a minimum of one blog post per quarter on a topic of concern to listeners/readers, to be determined with public editor.
• Seek editor/reporter/producer response to audience coverage concerns, when appropriate.
• Plan and coordinate audience engagement efforts, including social media tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Reddit) to expand the reach of the office and direct followers to blog.
• Write and edit external newsletter, develop and implement newsletter strategy.
• Handle any incoming telephone calls and communicate directly with audience members, and respond to mail complaints.
• Work with staff at member stations to arrange public editor events, visits and on-air appearances. Book NPR studios when required for remote interviews, create presentation materials for Public Editor engagements.
• Build relationships inside the NPR building and arrange meetings with interested parties at the request of the public editor (reserve meeting space at NPR when needed).
• Support administrative needs of the office, including (but not limited to) processing invoices, filing expense reports, maintaining office files and supervising the Public Editor intern.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Minimum education experience, required or preferred. (Ex: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience)

REQUIRED SKILLS
• At least 2-3 years of journalism-related experience, with the ability to collect, organize and assess information.
• Published work (print or radio) that demonstrates writing ability and/or experience at an editor’s level (print or radio).
• Demonstrated familiarity with journalism standards, practices and ethics and the current debates over these issues.
• Strong fact-checking and research skills.
• Strong written communication skills, including grammar, punctuation and familiarity with AP Style.
• Knowledge of and experience using current social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.
• Knowledge of and experience using blog and newsletter publishing content management systems.
• An ability to work as a self-starter and under pressure of deadline, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system.
• Ability to juggle multiple requests and issues, and to multitask effectively.
• Professional telephone manners and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office suite and Google Drive products.
• Strong organizational skills.

PREFERRED SKILLS
• Knowledge of the U.S. public radio system and its values.
• Radio journalism experience.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-ro1qe6-13-59-218-147-42 in your application.