Senior Editor

Intro to Position

Application Deadline: Friday, October 31st

Millions of listeners depend on Morning Edition and Up First to set the news agenda that starts their day. We deliver the latest international and national news stories paired with analysis to help put those headlines in context. Morning Edition is also a platform for accountability through interviews with government officials and decision makers who make or influence policy that affect people’s lives. The show also features culture stories about music, movies and books that bring joy and provoke thoughtful conversations about who we are in this world. 

A Senior Editor is an emerging leader within the Morning Edition and Up First team. They are trusted with making editorial decisions that directly affect news coverage on the live show and the podcast. They are accessible collaborators, keen news watchers and excellent writers. 

A Senior Editor can fulfill any role on the team, but is most relied upon to work on complex and challenging stories, projects and situations predominantly involving Morning Edition hosts. That includes traveling and field reporting with our hosts to sometimes hostile environments. It can also include managing cross-departmental editorial projects such as a series, breaking news or consequential interviews. And, they are sometimes asked to execute or manage the editorial and operational direction of the show with minimal supervision. 

The  Senior Editor, helps edit the daily show including host interviews, reported stories and other content for the broadcast, video, and digital platforms. The Senior Editor is a writer with flair and accuracy and is able to meet tight daily deadlines.  They work closely with the four show hosts, as well as with the show’s supervisory, editorial and production staff.  Senior Editors also help producers and editors shape or frame their stories and segments ensuring content is focused, accurate and meets NPR standards.

The right candidate for this position is interested in daily news and is eager to deliver the freshest, most important stories to listeners to start their day. They should also want to understand the needs and wants of various audiences.

Morning Edition is a 24/6 news operation. Candidates must be able to work a variety of shifts, including dayside, overnight, or swing shifts on a rotational basis.

This is a union-represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA; this role will require that the successful candidate enter into an employment agreement with NPR prior to their first day in the role.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook.All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.

Responsibilities

• Pitch, manage, and execute major editorial projects and stories to include high-profile guest interviews, reported stories, live events or other journalistic products
• Travel with hosts and staff domestically and internationally on reporting trips as assigned by show management team
• Edit and help produce interviews and stories on multiple platforms and mediums to the highest editorial standards at NPR
• Routinely develop timely, original program content for shows, actively pitching forward-looking stories, with the ability to turn on an aggressive deadline
• Manage and help develop original content for the show, podcast, and/ or digital platforms
• Train and mentor staff at all levels on the team and within the NPR network
• Fill in on show management duties as needed, such as managing staff assignments or show production
• Uphold NPR’s editorial and ethical standards on any piece of journalism they are working on including content on the show, podcast, newsletter or any other product Morning Edition and Up First produces
• Play a role in shaping editorial standards for the show by participating in conversations and initiatives around diversity, inclusion and equity.
  Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• At least eight years of journalism work experience as an editor, reporter or producer
• At least four years experience editing daily national news
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts
• Ability and willingness to travel on assignment

Preferred Qualifications

• At least ten years experience in journalism with at least five years as an editor working in a national news organization
• Proficiency in another language than English such as Spanish, Mandarin or Arabic
• Experience mentoring or teaching
• Experience writing and editing international news

Education Requirement

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience

Work Location

• Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington D.C. or Culver City location at least 4 days per week. Additional in person shifts may be assigned in accordance with departmental shift schedule(s). The employee must also reside in Washington D.C, Maryland, Virginia or California. 

Required Skills

• Expertise in editing and working with senior-level broadcast show hosts and journalists
• Expertise in writing and editing content for broadcast and digital platforms
• Proficiency in producing, editing audio and/or using audio editing software
• Proficiency in having to solve problems independently
• Ability to make news judgment calls 
• Executes major show-based projects with minimal supervision, working across the network  to communicate with and serve all platforms
• Ability to help shape the editorial direction of the who and podcast and takes responsibility for editorial integrity and  quality of final broadcast/published product
• Mentors and supports staff at all levels on development of writing and editing skills 

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $122,500-$137,500 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. 

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.