Job Description:
Join the team that supports CT Public’s flagship news shows, Where We Live and The Wheelhouse. These weekday, morning talk show/podcasts are well loved by listeners because they focus on Connecticut issues and politics. Where We Live covers the state's people, unique history, beauty, and challenges. We start local but we also take time to examine domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us here at home. The Wheelhouse makes Connecticut politics more understandable and accessible..
General Summary
The Producer II Radio Talk News SHows will work on a team that prioritizes producing high-quality shows. The Producer will be creative and open to stepping outside of the studio to connect with the community in new ways including live events and in-the-field interviews. The Producer will collaborate with newsroom staff especially during breaking news events and election coverage. This person will follow journalistic ethics and understand the mission of CT Public.
The Producer will book and interview guests, research topics, and create digital and social media content in support of our award-winning programs Additionally, the producer will manage the show calendar, book and pre-interview guests, research topics, write rundowns and scripts, and create digital and social media content in support of our award-winning programming.
Essential Functions
The Producer II will produce two shows a week and be an engaged member of the Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows team. Applicants must have the ability to complete the following essential job functions:
- Develops, enhances, and advances specific story ideas and concepts with producers and the host, in daily production segments and long-term planning.
- Directs pre-and post-production including, but not limited to, interviewing, script editing, final editing, and social media elements.
- Directs, leads, and supervises all aspects of a production from initial concept development to completion.
- Generates ideas and meets with other producers and host to develop program segments; prioritizes diverse sourcing in production process.
- Pitches show ideas, books and researches guests, topics, and ideas; researches and writes daily scripts and show rundowns for on-air, website and promotional use.
- Produces web content, including daily uploads and updates of web page, photography and podcast.
- Records, produces, edits, and mixes content using audio equipment and digital editing software ensuring production adheres to format and procedural guidelines; works with visuals team to incorporate video elements when needed.
- Provides creative and editorial guidelines to on-air guests in order to enrich quality of programming.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Responsibilities
The Producer has many responsibilities. Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Closely follows statewide, national, and international news, understands how to localize national/global news.
- Coordinates with Operations, Visuals, Social Media, Digital and other teams in our organization in service to the team and the program.
- Ensures all Company brand guidelines are followed.
- Ensures production adheres to format and procedural guidelines and ensures post-production is accurate and appropriate.
- Follows Connecticut Public style guidelines, journalistic, ethical and legal standards.
- Manages relationships with outside content partners to ensure maximum efficiency in sharing stories and presenting them in a dynamic way
- Responds to listener requests and correspondence.
- Supports and assists in fundraising, pledge, promotion, and outreach, including live events.
- Updates show calendars, spreadsheets, and other tools for coordination and communication across show and content team.
- Works collaboratively with hosts, producers, and the leadership of the Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows unit.
Additional duties may be required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
- AP and NPR style.
- Basic principles of narrative journalism, long form storytelling, and podcast production.
- Digital audio hardware and software editing and tools, including Audition, Premiere and Newsboss.Journalistic ethics and standards.
- Leading large complex projects, working in a fast-paced environment and handling multiple and changing priorities simultaneously.
- Navigating complex organizations and making the right connections to drive work forward, while anticipating potential shifts in work.
- Programmatic needs and audience make-up.
Skill In:
- Attention-to-detail, scheduling, and organization.
- Computer literacy and technical skills in digital editing.
- Maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness to CT Public and NPR in order to produce regional and national-quality broadcasting.
- Identify, write, and produce content for multiple platforms: broadcast, digital and social.
- Reading a variety of publications and online news sources.
- Staying informed on the latest trends in radio, podcasting and audio production.
- Using Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Smartsheets and Outlook.
Working with audio hardware (Mix Pre, Tascam, Marantz), software (Adobe Audition), and production broadcast console and remote recorder operation. - Writing clearly and grammatically correct.
Ability to:
- Define problems, collect data, and establish facts in order to draw valid conclusions as a change agent.
- Lead multiple projects concurrently while paying close attention to detail.
- Learn broadcast console and remote recorder operation.
- Make instant decisions regarding credibility, personality, and value of material to our program.
- Meet tight deadlines and perform under pressure of regionally-produced, national-quality broadcasting.
- Possess a visceral distaste of office politics and gossip.
- Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in diverse situations.
- Successfully meet tight hourly deadlines and handle multiple responsibilities under pressure and often independently.
Take creative direction/feedback from a supervisor or colleague. - Use language to grab listeners’ attention.
- Work in fast-paced environment making smart, fast, solid editorial decisions under pressure under strict deadlines.
- Work with editors and producers in team environment that includes several remote offices.
The ideal applicants must have demonstrated effectiveness in a collaborative, highly team-oriented environment, yet possess initiative, self-motivation and work with minimal supervision and demonstrating at all times respect for diverse constituencies.
Physical Requirements
The physical activities of this position may include frequent in-person or remote interactions. While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit (40%), stand (20%), walk (20%) and talk (60%). Use hands and fingers to operate complex editing equipment. Use sight to make appropriate editing on sound board. These physical demands, with or without reasonable accommodations, are required to perform the essential functions of this job. Additionally, the employee must have the ability to concentrate for extended periods with frequent interruption, understand, and relate, to the concepts behind specific ideas.
Working Conditions
This position is based at CT Public, in Hartford, but has a potential for hybrid work. Job functions are typically performed under conditions such as those found in general office or administrative work. Position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Position Type / Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position. Duties are routinely performed Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.; however, evening and weekend support will be necessary. Final schedule is based on operational and production needs. Occasionally, weekend or after-hours In-state travel may be required.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or a closely related filed AND a minimum of three (3) years of direct, sustained, professional experience in journalism AND/OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Public radio experience is preferred.
Applications are only accepted through our online career portal: https://ctpublic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/158?c=ctpublic