Harvest Public Media Reporter

We are hiring a Harvest Public Media Reporter in Ames!

Iowa Public Radio is looking for a person with great news judgement, a strong sense of curiosity, and a knack for enterprise reporting to be our next reporter based in Ames.

Much of your time will be spent working with the team from Harvest Public Media – a collaboration of Public Media newsrooms in the Midwest that covers rural issues of all kinds, the environment and agriculture. You will also produce stories specifically for IPR News, covering general assignment topics in Ames and north-central Iowa, and issues including higher education and climate.

Your work will include newscast spots, pieces, and online articles. You’ll occasionally be asked to join one of our talk shows or news magazines to talk about a story you’re working on.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys the kind of reporting that doesn’t come from news conferences or a daybook. You’ll join a great team of reporters throughout Iowa covering everything from state government, to health, education and politics. Self-motivation and an ability to work well on your own is essential.

We’ve got a strong relationship with NPR: We’ve been part of the political and state government reporting partnerships, and we’re part of NPR’s Midwest Newsroom, which focuses on enterprise and investigative reporting. You’ll have an opportunity to work with that collaboration and build those chops. We’ll also support you in building relationships with NPR editors and landing stories on the network.

Ames is the home of Iowa State University, and with that comes lots of arts and culture events, Big 12 sports, music and restaurants. The area is also great for outdoor recreation – with a bike trail system in the city, and you’re less than 30 minutes from the Des Moines metro’s extensive network of trails. Ledges State Park nearby has some great hiking, picnicking and camping opportunities. You’d be about 45 minutes from downtown Des Moines and three hours from Minneapolis.

If you’re passionate about impactful journalism, ethics and diversity, are adept at handling multiple projects at a time, and want to be part of a great and supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.

We know there are great candidates who might not exactly fit into what we’ve described here or who have important skills we haven’t listed. If that sounds like you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

We offer an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, a retirement plan with a 2-to-1 employer match, immediate accrual of vacation and sick time and a flexible work environment.

The Basics

• FLSA Classification: Exempt (Salaried, paid once a month)
• Reports to: News Director
• Location: 1013 WOI Rd, Ames, IA 50011. Candidates must be able to appear in the Ames office and studio when required. This beat covers north-central Iowa. In-state travel (<20%) is required. Remote work is authorized when appropriate.

Pay Range:

• $40,000 - $55,803

Experience Required

• At least one year of experience in a professional journalism environment, including internships.
• This position requires a valid state-issued driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• This position is dependent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required

• Experience working in multimedia platforms, including photographs, video and web platforms.
• Experience operating a variety of broadcast equipment including audio boards, digital editing systems (e.g. Adobe Audition), field recording units, and other production equipment.

Preferred Experience

• One year of full-time experience as a public radio reporter, anchor, producer, or host.
• Experience covering agriculture, rural, and/or environment issues.
• Firm foundation in journalism ethics, newsgathering, and reporting techniques.

Basic Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required:

• Experience working in multimedia platforms, including photographs, video and web platforms.
• Experience operating a variety of broadcast equipment including audio boards, digital editing systems (e.g. Adobe Audition), field recording units, and other production equipment.

Preferred Experiences:

• One year of full-time experience as a public radio reporter, anchor, producer, or host.
• Experience covering agriculture, rural, and/or environment issues.
• Firm foundation in journalism ethics, newsgathering, and reporting techniques.

Application Process

Apply through the position link on the IPR website.

For full consideration, applications must include:

1. A detailed resume.
2. A narrative carefully detailing how your experience compares to the job duties, qualifications, and functions for this position at this organization. The narrative should not exceed two pages.
3. Sample(s) of your work including:
   1. Two Written Documents: Scripts for both a spot news and a news-oriented feature story.
   2. Two Sound Files: A demo containing one newscast-length story (45-60 seconds), and one feature-length report (3:00-5:00) that you have edited and produced. Please upload the demo to Soundcloud or another hosting site and send us the links. If you do not have audio of a newscast available, please email recruiting@iowapublicradio.org for guidance.
   3. Online content you have produced (please send links). Online content can be a web build-out of a radio story or news content that was designed to be web-only. Please do not send stories you have produced with the help of a national network.
4. Names and contact information, including email addresses, for three work references, including at least one supervisory reference.

Application deadline is 5 p.m. March 26, 2024.

Our Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity:

Iowa Public Radio is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin or sex is prohibited. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, please notify the appropriate local, state or federal agency.