Full-Time

NPR seeks a tech editor

May 13, 2024

Posted by Chris Roush

NPR seeks an innovative and collaborative editor to help drive our tech and business coverage. The ideal candidate is a big-picture thinker who cares deeply about these topics and in delivering stories of consequence to a broad, national audience. The candidate embodies the best of public-service journalism by covering breaking news with a sense of urgency, while demonstrating the stamina and vision to oversee features, accountability journalism and investigative projects.

We expect this person to bring rigor, creativity, energy, and a sense of fun to our stories. The editor must have excellent news judgment, communication skills, and the flexibility and mindset to work with colleagues under deadline pressure to achieve results. They should be adept at using data and analytics to help stories reach new audiences on multiple platforms.

Our coverage is featured on NPR Newscast, Morning Edition, All Things Considered, NPR.org, Up First, Here & Now, Planet Money and Planet Money Indicator, among other platforms.

This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.

We highly encourage early applications; those submitted before June 3rd will be given priority consideration.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Determine beat priorities, balancing breaking and urgent news with high-impact enterprise stories.
  • Assign and generate story ideas.
  • Edit both audio and written stories, with NPR’s broad national audience in mind.
  • Ensure the highest level of editorial integrity in line with NPR standards and practices, including accuracy, fairness and objectivity.
  • Direct and coordinate coverage plans with other NPR desks and shows, including suggesting interview guests and establishing contacts where needed.
  • Represent the Business Desk to other parts of the organization.
  • Experiment with new ways of storytelling on different platforms and analyze data to learn from results.
  • Work regularly from 11am – 7pm ET, with some later hours and weekends required, depending on the news cycle.
  • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

  • At least 8 years of distinctive, original news reporting or editing on any platform.
  • Demonstrated strong familiarity with business topics, including, but not limited to: tech, autos, energy, consumers and the economy.
  • Demonstrated excellence in editing breaking news, explanatory journalism and feature stories.
  • Excellent communication skills and a track record of collaborative projects.
  • Proven experience in editorial decision-making, including assigning reporters to stories.
  • Ability to handle multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes, with changing priorities/conditions.
  • Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure.
  • Deep understanding of NPR’s core values and public service mission.
  • Passion for connecting with diverse audiences on a range of platforms.

PREFERRED:

  • Strong portfolio of work in tech or business journalism.
  • Experience reporting or editing investigative projects.
  • Experience reporting or editing compelling audio stories.
  • Experience preparing for live broadcasts.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

HOW TO APPLY: All applications must include a resume, a cover letter that explains your vision/priorities for this role to be considered, and links to at least three examples of your work and projects you’ve led.

WORK LOCATION

  • The job is remote-permitted and will involve occasional travel. Journalists living in the Pacific Time Zone are encouraged to apply.

JOB TYPE

  • This is a full time, exempt position.

COMPENSATION

Salary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $122,500 – $150,000 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

To apply, go here.

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