CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

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Investigative Reporting Fellowship

POSTED:

Tue, Jun 18, 2019

ENDS:

Tue, Jun 25, 2019

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellow is considered a developmental reporter at WPR. He or she will prepare investigative news reports on significant stories for statewide use (through WPR, WPR.org, and Wisconsinwatch.org). Regular and concentrated coaching on investigative journalism, editing, voicing and other aspects of radio news reporting is an important developmental element of this fellowship. The fellow may also discuss his or her latest story on one of WPR’s talk programs.

BACKGROUND

The Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellowship is designed for a recent graduate or someone in the early years of his or her career with at least some radio reporting experience. The successful candidate will work on collaborative projects with Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WCIJ). This one year fellowship begins in Fall of 2019.  Wisconsin Public Radio consists of 2 state-wide networks of 37 stations. WCIJ is a nonprofit and nonpartisan center based in Madison. Its reports have been cited, published or broadcast by more than 600 news organizations including Wisconsin Public Radio, The New York Times, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The fellow will receive close supervision and coaching as an investigative reporter, in areas that include story selection, interviewing, sound editing, and writing. As the successful candidate will be someone who already has some level of experience as a part-time or fulltime reporter, this will be a higher-level of instruction and feedback, with a higher level of work product expected.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Prepare investigative news reports for WPR, WPR.org, and Wisconsinwatch.org. Collaborate with web staff to produce visual elements to accompany stories. At times, the Fellow may also discuss his or her latest story on one of WPR’s talk programs.
  2. Receive training and direction on investigative reporting practices from the Center. Attend the Center’s editorial meetings.
  3. Participate in WPR News division meetings as requested.
  4. Meet regularly with WPR News management to discuss story/project development and for script/voice edits.
  5. Effectively communicate in both pre-recorded reporting and live reporting.
  6. Operate control board, studio and field audio recorders, digital audio production equipment, and computer.
  7. Exhibit sound judgment about and fact-based understanding of issues and problems.
  8. Maintain the standards of journalistic ethics and excellence described in Ethical Guidelines for Editorial Staff: http://bami.uwex.edu.
  9. Position may include occasional weekend and/or evening assignments and travel to cover regional and special assignments.
  10. Effectively engage diverse perspectives and experiences in work product and in organizational interactions and demonstrate respect for others in all workplace relationships and interactions.
  11. Other duties as apparent or assigned.

DEGREE AND AREA OF SPECIALIZATION

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

MINIMUM YEARS AND TYPE OF RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Demonstrated broadcast and online news writing skills.

Strong editorial and ethical judgment.

High quality on-air sound. Excellent vocabulary and articulation skills.

Demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

NOT REQUIRED BUT DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Previous public broadcasting experience.
  2. Two or more years of experience reporting for broadcast.

SALARY : Minimum $44,000.

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

Submit all application materials online https://jobs.wisc.edu by June 25. Please include: a detailed cover letter outlining how your background and experience compares to the job duties and qualifications of this position; resume and the names and contact information, including email addresses, for three to five work references, including at least one supervisory reference.

Also include samples of your work, including a) Demo containing at least three feature-length reports (3:00-5:00) that you have edited and produced b) Writing sample that includes three feature-length stories. Links are preferred for audio files.

Questions? Contact Betsy Nelson, Wisconsin Public Radio, 821 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, 608-262-5221;  [email protected]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

UW-Madison offers a comprehensive benefits package.  More information is available at http://www.uwsa.edu/ohrwd/benefits/summaries/