Government Accountability Editor
- Job Title
- Government Accountability Editor
- Job ID
- 27622754
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Other Location
- Description
-
KERA is building a new Government Accountability Reporting team and is hiring an experienced, dynamic editor to lead the effort.
The station serves the country’s fifth-largest media market, reaching more than 2 million people weekly through KERA TV, KERA News, KXT and Art&Seek. For more than 60 years, North Texans have turned to KERA as a destination for community engagement and lifelong learning.
As we seek to recognize and reflect the increasing diversity among our audiences, we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives to consider employment opportunities at KERA.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Editor is a new fulltime position that’s part of KERA’s newsroom expansion.
The Government Accountability Reporting team will dive deep into public policy and governing, with a focus on holding local and regional officials accountable for the decisions they make and the money they control. The team will start with a focus on Dallas City Hall and the Dallas County government and eventually expand to cover other North Texas municipalities along with state and national officials. The coverage will range from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative projects and will play out on KERA’s digital and broadcast platforms.
The ideal candidate to lead this team is a fearless journalist with deep knowledge of and experience covering government and policy. The Editor must be a dynamic storyteller rooted in ethics and standards with deep experience requesting and interpreting public records and data sets. They must be versatile, efficient and resilient – balancing leadership and high-impact journalism, from quick turns and investigative projects to long-term vision.
We’d prefer someone with audio skills, but if your experience is from print, digital or a different platform, don’t let that deter you from inquiring or applying. We can support the right candidate’s transition to our multiplatform newsroom.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assign, plan and edit enterprise stories for radio and digital platforms from interviews, research, data and analysis. Find creative ways to report on everything from breaking news to in-depth projects. The goal: High impact with deep substance.
- Build, edit and supervise the Government Accountability Reporting team as it grows, starting with Dallas City Hall and Dallas County reporters.
- Deftly use data and public records to ground the team’s reporting, and train the rest of the KERA News team in those techniques.
- Conceptualize, edit and execute distinctive audio and digital stories relevant to a North Texas audience, with statewide and national context and impact.
- Coach and mentor reporters and producers across the newsroom on building expertise, developing project ideas and creative ways to tell stories on multiple platforms.
- Supervise and edit other reporters as needed.
- Think creatively with the audience team about the best ways to present, publish and tell these stories and engage audiences with the content.
- Collaborate proactively with The Texas Newsroom and other local, regional and national partnerships.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture where ideas are encouraged at all levels by modelling and training others in inclusive leadership practices.
- Create and participate in online and in-person events.
- Participate in extensive training opportunities in the newsroom, in departments across KERA and across the state with The Texas Newsroom.
We believe a strong organization includes employees from a range of backgrounds, with different skills, experiences and passions. If you don't meet every job qualification but have some of these skills and think you’re the right person for the job, we'd like to hear from you. Please apply and tell us more about yourself.- A minimum of 5 to 10 years in journalism or relevant experience.
- Proven ability to quickly write, voice and produce radio and/or digital stories.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity in reporting and sourcing.
- Solid knowledge of Associated Press style, ability to exercise sound news judgment and follow KERA/NPR ethics and editorial standards.
- Passionate and enthusiastic about public media journalism and serving a diverse North Texas audience.
- Experience with one or more of the following: audio production; multimedia production, particularly photography or video; hands-on audio editing and innovative audio storytelling; working with one or more content management systems; other relevant technical expertise.
- Degree in journalism, communications or related field or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge of North Texas people, cultures, issues and geography as well as national and international issues and events.
- Working knowledge of Spanish and/or other languages common in Texas.
$80,000 - $100,000, depending on experience
LOCATION
KERA is partially operating remotely due to the pandemic. When we fully return to the office, we will continue to provide flexibility for our staff to work remotely if they so choose. We expect that this position will work out of our office at least 50% of the time.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the application on KERA’s employment page and attach a resume and cover letter summarizing how you’d approach this position, your accomplishments and qualifications and links to recent audio/digital work samples.
KERA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
KERA believes that diversity is important to our success. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.
