Alaska has unique healthcare challenges and systems of care, from large urban non-profit and tribal  hospitals to remote clinics staffed by village health aides. Alaska Public Media (AKPM) is looking for a  journalist eager to engage in enterprise reporting on public health in the broadest sense of the word.  Reporting will examine the healthcare industry, legislation and public policy, insurance and the  uninsured, public and environmental health, suicide prevention, addiction and overdose, community and  individual wellbeing, the overlap of western and traditional medicine and other public health issues. This  is a chance for an ambitious journalist to report on a wide range of stories at a high stakes time for many  critical issues affecting the future of Alaska.  

The Health and Wellness Reporter/Producer will provide content for AKPM’s program Line One-Your  Health Connection and serve as the backup producer for Line One when the program producer is away.  

This position is responsible for generating enterprise stories on all aspects of individual and community  health and healthcare policy for Alaska Public Media. AKPM is a broad-based public media organization  that delivers television, radio, and web content. AKPM is the source for NPR radio and PBS television for  Southcentral Alaska and stewards the public media statewide news collaboration with 25 public media  partners. The reporter will uphold the highest journalistic standards and ethics and work professionally  with Alaska Public Media colleagues and the public. 

Essential Functions:  

The Health and Wellness Reporter/Producer will: 

• Continually generate quality story ideas that go beyond basic news and delve deep into high  stakes and engaging topics that will help determine the future of our region and state.

• Produce in-depth and quick turn stories on the issues that resonate for audiences in and beyond  Alaska in a platform neutral environment.

• Radio and digital stories will be the primary focus for the reporter, but the job may also include  taking photos and video and producing multimedia packages.  

• Take part in various news, public affairs and election programs for radio, TV and digital. 

• Collaborate with other AKPM staff on various news and public affairs projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:  

In addition to the above functions, the Health and Wellness Reporter/Producer will:

• Stay current with local, state and tribal health policy issues and emerging new health trends.

• Perform in a deadline-driven news environment. 

• Multitask and work across multiple media platforms. 

• Work collegially in a team-based atmosphere. 

• Adhere to professional journalistic styles and practices, including, but not limited to Alaska Public  Media styles and rules. 

• Other duties as assigned.  

Required Qualifications: 

• Experience working in a news, communication, publication, broadcast or Web environment.

• Ability to work collegially with multiple stakeholders and audiences. 

• 1 – 3 years’ experience working in a newsroom or reporting experience for a media  organization. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience. 

• Skill in on-air performance and audio production. 

• Understanding reporting (writing, photography, video) for digital. 

• Competency in broadcasting operations and editing (audio, video, photo) software.

• Familiarity with public radio news programming. 

Allowable Substitution 

If necessary, alternative combinations of education and experience will be evaluated by the Human  Resources Office for comparability. 

Competencies: 

• Act in accordance with AKPM policies. 

• Support AKPM compliance efforts with FCC, CPB, NPR and PBS rules and regulations.

• Communicate effectively. 

• Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills. 

• Maintain positive relationships with both internal and external customers. 

• Demonstrate consistent outstanding customer service. 

• Proficient at computer use to include office software products, custom software packages,  internet and e-mail. 

• Consistently demonstrate ethical behavior. 

• Must exercise good judgment for the prompt completion of responsibilities.

Employee Expectations: 

Must be able to work in a constantly changing environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and  prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands while seeking supervisory assistance as appropriate. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to  successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

The employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit; use hands to handle or feet; reach with hands  and arms; talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The  employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. 

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are typical of a television/radio broadcast office  environment and representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential  functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to  perform essential functions.  

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

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