Washington Desk Editor

This is a Full Time Job

Washington Desk Editor, Temporary (2021)

OVERVIEW

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success.

NPR’s Washington Desk covers the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, the Justice Department and electoral politics. We value original reporting, insightful analysis and explanatory journalism. We’re known for our work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, and our stories often lead NPR’s broadcast shows and NPR.org. We also produce a popular daily podcast, The NPR Politics Podcast, on our desk.

This Washington Desk editor will help edit the teams covering the White House and the Justice Department for NPR’s broadcast and digital platforms. On any given day, the White House and Justice Department reporters are juggling multiple news and feature stories, and this editor will play a key role in shaping their stories and interacting with the network’s shows and digital platforms on their behalf. This editor will also assist in editing The NPR Politics Podcast.

This is a temporary job beginning in November of 2021 and lasting at least until Jan. 31, 2022.

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 -- but also have the confidence to work independently. This editor should have experience and a passion for covering political and policy news.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Edit the White House, Justice Department and Politics Podcast teams alongside other editors, assigning news and feature stories for broadcast and digital platforms, and seeing those stories to fruition;
• Work with co-editors to set priorities for White House and Justice Department reporters and represent them to shows, newscast, digital and other NPR platforms;
• Work with editors, hosts, and producers of The NPR Politics Podcast to plan daily episodes, brainstorm ideas, write scripts and edit the episodes, ensuring editorial integrity, adherence to facts and compelling conversation.
• Work with entire Washington Desk editing team to set priorities across the desk, brainstorm reporting targets and story ideas;
• Other editing 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;
• 5 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 time frames and changing priorities/conditions;
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure;
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts;
• Demonstrated team collaboration and leadership skills;
• Experience in digital media, including editing copy.

PREFERRED SKILLS
• Experience editing for radio;
• Experience editing breaking news;
• Experience covering the White House and/or Justice Department;
• Familiarity with NPR member stations and public media system;
• Expertise in writing, with excellence in news writing, copy editing and headline writing;
• Demonstrated ability to generate and execute complex creative ideas, to assimilate and organize large amounts of information.

All applications must include a resume and cover letter to be considered.

This position is covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA. The minimum salary for this position is $90,000.00

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive place to work that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.