Environmental & Agriculture Reporter - KCUR, Harvest Public Media
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Full-time
Writing / Editing
Posted on April 23, 2024
Hiring Department
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
KCUR
Harvest Public Media is a public radio collaboration based at KCUR in Kansas City with partners at six other public radio stations. We report on climate, environment, agriculture and rural issues throughout the Midwest and Great Plains, airing and publishing our stories in nine states. Our stories are often picked up by NPR.
KCUR 89.3 is the NPR affiliate in Kansas City and is an editorially independent community service of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Seewww.kcur.org/jobsfor information about KCUR and Kansas City.
Job Description
We're seeking a reporter to join our team at KCUR in Kansas City. This person should be eager to dive into issues around climate change, water quality and access, food production, as well as delving into the challenges facing rural communities. We're looking for a reporter with a keen curiosity, an interest in solutions reporting and the ability to find stories that connect listeners and readers across the region.
This reporter works with Harvest's managing editor and Harvest's team of reporters based at six other public radio stations including: St. Louis Public Radio, also in Missouri; Nebraska Public Media in Lincoln, Nebraska; Iowa Public Radio in Des Moines, Iowa; KOSU in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; WILL in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; and WNIJ in DeKalb, Illinois. This reporter will produce in-depth and sound-rich audio, as well as engaging digital stories for an audience throughout the Midwest and Great Plains. It's a beat that requires getting into the field — sometimes that means farm fields, into a researcher's lab, or even a boat on the Missouri River.
Characteristic Duties:
- Produce in-depth audio and digital news stories regarding climate, environment, agriculture, and rural issues in Missouri, Kansas and the Midwest. Much of the reporter's work will be distributed through Harvest Public Media to media partners across nine states.
- Interview sources with wide-ranging backgrounds across the region.
- Research and analyze data, issues and sources to properly fact check completeness, balance, and accuracy.
- Contribute spot and breaking news coverage to daily newscasts when issues arise for KCUR.
- Other duties as assigned.
This is a full-time, benefit eligible staff position.
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
- Two years of work experience in a public media or news organization.
- At least one year experience in a related position.
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field or equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this job.
- Ability to cover breaking news as well as report through long-form, innovative storytelling.
- Aggressive, enthusiastic, and self-motivated approach to daily news coverage.
- Excellent writing skills, proven news judgment, and journalistic integrity.
- Enthusiasm for the role of public media in a changing journalism environment.
- Ability to multitask and work on diverse projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
- Demonstrated ability to take direction and work collaboratively with various personalities.
- Ability and willingness to work a varied schedule, including weekends.
- Experience operating a variety of broadcast equipment including audio boards, digital editing systems (e.g. Adobe Audition), field recording units, and other production equipment.
- Experience producing content for the web and social platforms.
- Ability to perform a writing test as part of the interview process.
$50,367 - $56,000 per year commensurate on education, experience, and internal equity.
Application Deadline
Review of applications to begin on March 21, 2024.
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website athttps://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Values Commitment
We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.
In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visithttps://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeoor call Human Resources at 816-235-1621.
To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.
