Job Title: KCUR - Missouri Politics and Government Reporter, 71795
Location: UMKC Volker Campus
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 38684
Hiring Department

KCUR Public Radio 89.3

Job Description

KCUR 89.3, NPR in Kansas City, is looking for an ambitious politics and government reporter who can tell compelling stories about how the actions of elected officials impact the daily lives of people in metropolitan Kansas City.

We’re seeking a watchdog with an exceptional ability to explain how complicated legislation and policy affect individuals far from city council committee rooms and Statehouse chambers, who can see through oversimplified political rhetoric to equip our audiences with the facts they need to be informed participants in our democracy. We need a gifted storyteller who’s inspired by the complexities of Missouri, with its cities, suburbs and rural geographies, its tensions and its opportunities.

This reporter will pitch and report spot news and long-form audio/digital features, discuss breaking news and provide analysis on our Up to Date talk show, and collaborate with colleagues throughout the state. They also have an opportunity to work with the regional investigations team at NPR’s KCUR-based Midwest Newsroom.

The ideal candidate is an experienced multi-media journalist, a great writer who excels at social media and knows how to engage communities online and in person.

This person also must have an innovative, collegial, and enterprising approach to stories in all forms and an ability to multitask in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

• Stay abreast of daily developments in Missouri government and politics, developing broad geographic knowledge, sources, and topical expertise.
• Pitch, research, report and voice spots, two-ways, and feature stories for morning and afternoon newsmagazines, our local talk show, and national programs (as appropriate).
• Create digital stories that provide depth and include photographs, as well as interpretive charts and interactive graphics as appropriate.
• Anticipate and respond to breaking news.
• Collaborate with KCUR’s in-state partners and national entities to share content across multiple platforms.
• Collaborate with other KCUR reporters and editors on projects.
• Participate in all assigned fundraising and outreach activities, on air and off.
• Some travel required; other duties as assigned.

This position reports to the news director at KCUR.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism, communications, political science or a related field.
• At least three years of work experience in a radio, news, or public media organization. Experience covering breaking news, politics or a legislature are a plus.
• A strong devotion to accuracy, journalistic ethics and integrity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Aggressive, enthusiastic and self-motivated approach to daily news coverage.
• Ability to multitask and work on diverse projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability and willingness to work a varied schedule.
• Enthusiasm for the role of public media in a changing journalism environment with good news judgment.
• A demonstrated ability to identify in-depth news stories with context and impact.
• A demonstrated ability to develop a diverse selection of news sources from a differing demographic and political backgrounds.
• A strong devotion to accuracy and journalistic ethics.
• Experience with digital audio editing software (e.g. Adobe Audition), field recording equipment and other audio production tools.
• Experience filing public records requests and interpreting campaign finance reports.

Full Time/Part Time

This is a full time, benefit eligible position.

Salary

$47,476 - $55,000 annually, to commensurate with experience and education.

Application Deadline

October 31, 2021

Application Instructions

Applicants must combine all application materials (cover letter, resume, and list of five references with contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment.

Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.).

If you are experiencing technical problems, please call (800) 488-5288.

Note, you must provide a description of job duties for each Work Experience entry on your application. Please carefully review the application instructions section of our Careers page prior to submitting your materials.

Comments

Statement on Diversity at KCUR

KCUR is committed to ensuring that our workforce, community advisory board, and audience reflect the diversity found in the communities we serve. Central to KCUR’s mission, vision, and values is maintaining a workplace environment that recognizes and celebrates diversity in all forms. We encouraged candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply. For more information on our policies and governance, visit https://www.kcur.org/governance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Vice Chancellor - Human Resources at 816-235-1621.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties and functions of this job. If you believe you may have difficulty performing any of the duties or functions of this job, please contact the Office of Affirmative Action at (816) 235-1323.

EEO IS THE LAW

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

• EEO is the Law English Version
• EEO is the Law Spanish Version
• EEO is the Law Chinese Version

UMKC Statement on Diversity

UMKC values diversity as central to its mission as an urban-serving research university and as a driver of excellence in teaching and learning. UMKC embraces a broad spectrum of diversities, including race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, linguistic ability, learning style, religion, socioeconomic and veteran status, life experiences, educational level and family structure. For more information on our diversity mission, visit the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website: http://info.umkc.edu/diversity/

UMKC is the largest comprehensive, fully accredited university in the Kansas City area. Our students come from all 50 states and over 85 countries, enriching our community with diverse perspectives. With more than 125 academic areas, our students have a lot of opportunities to explore on their way to discovering and creating their perfect career. We are at the heart of a thriving urban area where the city’s life and energy influence everything that happens here. We are Kansas City’s university and we can’t wait for you to join us! Find out more about UMKC in the About UMKC section of our website.

Details about UMKC’s community and the benefits of being an employee can be found on our careers page.