Editor/Senior Editor for Congress, Washington & Politics Desk

Posted: March 28, 2018 Full-Time WASH. DC, DC, United States

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the country. NPR listeners value information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility ? and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide . NPR?s award-winning Washington Desk produces sophisticated yet accessible coverage of the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court and Department of Justice as well as electoral politics. Our focus is on the nexus of policy, politics and culture. We draw connections between the places political leaders come from, the people they represent and the policies they embrace. We consider the role of cultural and demographic change as we aim to illuminate governance and politics. Fact-checking and explanatory journalism are vital to our mission as well as breaking news with clarity and context. Known for our work ethic, the Washington Desk aspires to great storytelling both on air and online. Our coverage is featured on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, NPR.org, UpFirst and the on the NPR Politics Podcast.

This full-time Editor will work closely with the Congressional team and the Political Editor to help direct NPR?s news and feature coverage of Congress and the 2018 election. He or she should bring creativity, energy and sophistication to our political coverage. He or she should think expansively about content and the best ways to deliver it. The job requires attention to detail, big-picture thinking, and concern about craft. The editor must have excellent news judgment and the ability to work collaboratively with editors across the network. The editor should have experience and a passion for covering political and policy news.

The position is based in Washington. The core schedule is Monday-Friday, though considerable flexibility is required.

Responsibilities:

- Contribute to planning for news and feature coverage of Congress and the 2018 election for all platforms;

- Coordinate coverage plans with shows and other desks;

- Generate story ideas and review story pitches, help develop storytelling approaches and sources, and determine the best platform for news coverage, including making suggestions for interviews and establishing contacts;

- Assign, develop and edit original stories from other NPR staff;

- Protect the editorial integrity and quality of news online and on the air, ensuring that all stories meet NPR program standards and practices, including standards of fairness, objectivity, and balance;

- Provide feedback to supervisors for performance evaluations;

- Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

- Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university or equivalent required.

Required skills:

- Strong oral and written communication skills;

- 3+ years of experience editing news stories at the national level;

- Experience in editorial decision-making, including assigning reporters/correspondents;

- Ability to handle multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes and changing priorities/conditions;

- Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure;

- Ability and willingness to work to work varied shifts;

- Demonstrated team collaboration skills;

- Knowledge of audio production;

- Experience in Digital Media, including editing copy.

Preferred skills:

- 5+ years of experience editing news stories at the national level;

- Experience editing for radio;

- Familiarity with content management systems and collaboration tools such as Google Docs, Basecamp, etc.

- Familiarity with NPR member stations and public media system;

- Expertise in writing, with excellence in news writing, copy-editing and headlines;

- Demonstrated ability to generate and execute complex creative ideas, to assimilate and organize large amounts of information.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you. All applications must include a resume and cover letter to be considered.

If you apply for this job, here's what you can expect in our interview process. If you?re checking out technical or digital roles, here are some additional things you should consider about what you?ll experience at NPR.

NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development. NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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