The Reporter II, Personal Finance covers one of the most essential public-service beats at NPR because it has the capacity to affect all decisions in a person’s life. It encompasses housing, living with debt, retirement and investments, taxes, and how banks treat — or mistreat — customers.
The ideal candidate will jump on breaking news in the beat and also use rigor and deep reporting to put a spotlight on developments that affect people’s wallets and help our audience make informed decisions every day. The reporter will develop a deep understanding of the issues that keep people awake at night, like their ability to pay their home mortgage or rent, whether they’ll ever be able to retire, the safety of their bank accounts, and how much it costs them to pay taxes or take on payday loans. The reporter will also report on and explain how powerful institutions, from banks and insurance companies to investment firms and government agencies, have a say in our personal finances. The role also has an investigative side to it: Exposing wrongdoing at these powerful institutions.
The ideal candidate produces memorable stories for NPR readers and listeners. They research and generate fresh angles on how to cover topics that consumers need to understand. The reporter also ensures our coverage includes not just a diversity of ideas, but experiences, perspectives and voices.
A love of storytelling is essential, as is a high metabolism for news. You will be a key member of a small but mighty team so you must be willing to collaborate and take direction. This is a fast-paced job, but one that offers the resources and space to do original reporting that makes a difference.
This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.
This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR’s content, including events.
Responsibilities
- Report audio stories for broadcast and written stories for npr.org
- Turn around stories quickly on breaking news
- Develop diverse news sources to get scoops and recognize big developments on the beat before others do
- Work on enterprise stories with impact
- Meticulously check facts
- Provide live information and analysis on NPR shows
- Perform other duties as assigned by your editor
- Collaborate with other reporters across NPR’s newsroom
- Travel occasionally
- Fulfill administrative obligations arising from assignments, such as filing prompt and accurate expense reports.
Required Skills and Experience
- Experience reporting and producing audio journalism
- At least 4 years’ experience covering personal finance or an adjacent beat
- Demonstrated ability to pivot from breaking news to analysis to longer-form entrepreneurial reporting projects
- Ability to connect news events with impact on real people’s experiences
- Ability to explain dry business topics to a wide audience so they can understand their significance
- Ability to meet deadlines and to thrive in a daily, unpredictable news production environment
- Proven ability and commitment to work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system
- Commitment to learn and enact the best journalism practices
- Ability and willingness to relocate if needed
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience with data-driven journalism
- Knowledge of public radio and the public radio system
- Knowledge of AP style guidelines
- Ability to do interviews in a language other than English
To be considered for this position, it is essential you submit 3 things:
- Your CV/resume
- A 2-page cover letter explaining why you want this job, what you bring to it and your vision for how you would cover the beat.
- Links or copies of 3-5 of your most meaningful stories.
Application deadline:
While applications will be considered until the position is filled, priority will be given to those received by NPR before October 1, 2025.
To apply, go here.
