Host, Audio

Position description

The country’s largest investigative news organization is seeking an accomplished audio journalist to host and help develop a new weekly podcast series based on ProPublica’s reporting. Although ProPublica has already co-produced several successful podcasts — including “We Don’t Talk About Leonard” and “Trump, Inc.” — the creation of our own weekly podcast represents a new venture for us. We’re looking for an exceptional audio journalist with experience in accountability reporting and a track record of turning stories about complicated issues and secretive sources into compelling listening. The host will partner with senior leadership at ProPublica to shape the tone and direction of the show. A collaborative spirit is key: You’ll be working with a sprawling network of staff reporters and editors, along with a small production staff, to bring stories to life in narrative audio form.

The host will be the voice of ProPublica, taking listeners inside our newsroom and the process of investigative reporting and helping them understand this crucial moment. And this is a production role. You’ll be expected to pitch ideas for stories that would translate well into audio, prep and conduct interviews, edit audio, write and structure scripts, and record both in studio and in the field. You will not directly manage staff, but strong leadership and communication skills are essential. 

The successful candidate will have deep experience in public-interest journalism and a library of clips that demonstrate their skills in conducting enterprise reporting and crafting an entertaining narrative. We are looking for someone with creative ideas about how to expand ProPublica’s reach and speak to nontraditional news consumers. The ideal candidate will possess curiosity, ambition, imagination and a deep commitment to ProPublica’s mission of holding power to account. 

The host will report to the executive producer for audio. This is a temporary, two-year role with the possibility of extension. 

Key aspects of the job:

• Work alongside the executive producer to develop a weekly show for ProPublica. 
• Collaboratively establish a compelling audio style and narrative voice for ProPublica, with input from stakeholders.
• Serve as the host for the podcast, providing an engaging, accessible and dynamic on-air presence and showcasing reporters’ investigations.
• Conduct in-depth interviews with a wide range of guests, drawing out narrative arcs. 
• Write and structure scripts, ensuring accuracy and journalistic integrity.
• Participate in all aspects of the production process, including editing audio in Pro Tools.
• Ensure strong journalistic ethics and fact-checking processes throughout production.
• Serve as an ambassador for ProPublica’s audio efforts and a coach for reporters appearing on ProPublica’s podcast. 

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have many of these skills:

• At least seven years of experience as an audio host, reporter or producer with on-air experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and produce great audio storytelling in a professional setting, ideally a newsroom, production company or studio. 
• A deep dedication to showcasing the work of ProPublica reporters. This role may involve conducting some original reporting for the podcast, but the primary function will be to collaborate with text reporters to translate their work into a compelling narrative audio format.
• The ability to clearly communicate a vision and bring it to fruition when collaborating with reporters, producers and editors.
• Experience scripting and structuring longform audio projects.
• Innovative audio sensibilities, a clear point of view and an outstanding ear for good tape. 
• A firm commitment to accuracy, high editorial standards and unassailable journalism ethics. 
• Deep production experience and the ability and willingness to contribute to the production workflow as needed.
• Familiarity with industry-standard recording equipment and software. Proficiency in Pro Tools is strongly preferred. 
• An interest in pushing the boundaries on what investigative journalism can look like in audio and how it can reach mainstream audiences.
• Trauma literacy and experience working with complex and sensitive topics.
• Ability to travel for assignments, training and meetings as required.

This job is full time on a temporary, two-year basis, and it includes benefits. ProPublica is based in New York, but we’re open to remote candidates. We have offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Chicago; Austin, Texas; Phoenix; and Berkeley, California. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000.

This is a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.

Application instructions

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