General Assignment Reporter, Billy Penn

Job Description

About WHYY

WHYY serves the Philadelphia region with trusted journalism, eye-opening storytelling and intimate local arts programming. Our curiosity and commitment to this community is what drives our programming. It’s also what drives our hiring.

Below you’ll find an employment opportunity in the fast-paced setting of the Philadelphia region’s leading public media provider. The award-winning professional staff of WHYY sets the bar high in television, radio and online. Whether it’s preparing a program to air or a behind-the-scenes role in support, all positions are vital to continuing—and growing—our impact in our community.

WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about our Social Responsibility Program. It’s how we live.

About the Role

Billy Penn is looking for an experienced, innovative professional to work as a General Assignment Reporter[1]  and contribute to the popular email newsletter. This reporter will help maintain the site’s tone, tenor, and content by creating original work that can’t be found elsewhere, and keeping tabs on what Philadelphia is talking about online and in real life. The ideal candidate can pitch story ideas one month ahead, produce an informed, focused news article on short notice, and move between story topics as the news cycle commands.

The General Assignment Reporter is a self-starter and is a capable reporter who has beat reporting experience. They bring a sense of urgency to their work with regard to the distribution of their stories across digital platforms to meet audience interests. This reporter has a comprehension for Billy Penn’s voice and can report stories of general interest to the audience.

Top candidates will be able to report and write compelling original stories that aren’t being covered elsewhere; find stories in the people and things that Philadelphians encounter every day; report on a range of communities; and know when and how to evoke the Billy Penn voice in reporting.

This job isn’t about writing down what a politician said at a press conference — unless it’s truly very Philly. It is about explaining the city’s latest health directives in clear language, finding nuggets on social media and chasing down sources for the scoop, visualizing data about disparities and presenting it with solutions, exposing shenanigans, and shining a spotlight on people who help make Philadelphia great.

This reporter can write clean news copy and write quickly to jump on content that peaks audience interest. In addition, the reporter is a self-starter and works well with fellow editorial team members. They are able to take actionable feedback and bring into their next stories. Billy Penn has an engaged audience and membership. The editorial team prides itself on serving its members and Philadelphians with invigorating news content.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• File 2-3 or more stories each week depending on the news cycle

• Conduct interviews, perform audio editing, voice work, and production of  story versions that publish on both radio and web/digital platforms

• Pitch story ideas to your assigned editor; receive and incorporate editor feedback

• Pitch ideas at Billy Penn news and editorial meetings and brainstorm with other team members

• Keep track of pitching and executing multiple reporting projects per editorial approval

• Take photos for original stories as needed and shoot/edit videos as assigned if applicable

• Identify or obtain artwork to go with your stories, including data visualizations

• Learn radio production and how to turn written articles into radio pieces and produce them for WHYY-FM and other emerging platforms

• Cultivate contacts with sources and newsmakers connected to Philadelphia and from the range of communities that makeup the City of Brotherly Love

• Help write and build Billy Penn email newsletters as needed

• Curate news via Billy Penn’s social media accounts as assigned

• Contribute ideas to and participate in Billy Penn events and panel discussions

• Work closely with other Billy Penn reporters, sharing information and story ideas, and collaborate with the WHYY News staff at-large as applicable

• Possess knowledge of Associated Press style

• Attend WHYY News meetings and departmental meetings as applicable; contribute to or collaborate with WHYY News editorial news coverage plans as assigned

• Available to work nights and weekends as needed per the news cycle and scheduled events, as well as assigned holidays per the overall newsroom scheduling processes

• Maintain a regular and predictable attendance

• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements

Education:  Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related fields of study. A candidate without an undergraduate degree may be considered with a proven track record of beat news reporting.

Experience: Minimum 2 years of journalism experience preferred. Must have experience as a reporter and with the practice of newsgathering methods.

Software/Technical Skills: Computer literacy; knowledge of online writing and editing standards; social media literacy; understanding of data visualization. Multimedia production and/or photography skills are a plus. Proficiency in a web-production platform or content management system like WordPress is needed. Ability to use or learn audio editing software like Pro Tools, Hindenburg or Adobe Audition is required. The candidate understands both the technology of web and radio production and must be able to work with technical staff to further develop the website, identify best practices, and problem solve. Experience working with Photoshop, Google Docs, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook is required.

*This position is represented by SAG-AFTRA.

*All WHYY employees are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Proof will be required upon hiring.

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