What are the responsibilities and job description for the KERA Mental Health Reporter position at KERA?
Job Details
Description
KERA, the public broadcasting organization for Dallas/Fort Worth, is looking for an ambitious, innovative reporter to join the KERA News team. Serving the country’s fifth-largest media market, KERA reaches more than 2 million people weekly through KERA TV, KERA 90.1 FM, Triple-A music station KXT 91.7 FM, and the websites kera.org, keranews.org, kxt.org and artandseek.org. For more than 60 years, North Texans have turned to KERA as a destination for community engagement and lifelong learning.
As we seek to recognize and reflect the increasing diversity among our audiences, we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives to consider employment opportunities at KERA.
POSITION SUMMARY
The full-time Mental Health Reporter will focus initially on covering the COVID-19 pandemic, with special attention to topics involving mental health. Ultimately, this reporter will spearhead KERA’s award-winning mental health initiative, which is called “On Our Minds.” This reporter will write and produce everything from daily breaking news reports to in-depth storytelling projects on all of KERA’s platforms: radio, video, social media and other digital platforms. The reporter will also take a lead role in community engagement events, organizing and moderating panels online and eventually in person. There will be potential for developing and editing freelance reporters as part of the “On Our Minds” project.
This is a great opportunity for a creative, detail-oriented newshound with stellar ideas and strong journalistic experience. We’re looking for someone with passion for exploring health care disparities in underserved communities, someone who’s determined to connect with and elevate the diverse voices of those communities. There will be a focus on accountability and on the impact of long-term trauma.
The job will be based in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, with statewide and national reach: KERA leads The Texas Newsroom -- a landmark “regional news hub” of public radio stations across the state and NPR -- and the station is part of NPR’s partnership with Kaiser Health News. The ideal candidate is excited by the possibilities of public media and of the evolving media landscape in North Texas and beyond. Most of the KERA staff is working from home through early 2021; this reporter will move into KERA’s Dallas office when the rest of the staff returns.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead KERA’s coverage of public health and mental health in North Texas and beyond. Create engaging multimedia stories from interviews, research, data and analysis. Find creative ways to report on issues that touch everyone. The goal: High impact with deep substance.
- Work collaboratively as part of KERA’s team to build expertise, contribute compelling story ideas and experiment with innovative storytelling techniques.
- Build and maintain a community around the beat – locally, statewide and nationally. Create and participate in online and in-person events.
- Cover breaking news in North Texas and beyond. Develop distinctive audio and digital stories focused in the KERA listening area, with statewide and national context and impact.
- Actively participate in KERA fundraising campaigns.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
We believe a strong organization includes employees from a range of backgrounds, with different skills, experiences and passions. If you don't meet every job qualification but have some of these skills and feel you could be a good fit, we'd like to hear from you. Please apply and tell us more about yourself.
- Passion for journalism focused on health and/or mental health.
- Undergraduate degree in journalism, mass communications or related field or equivalent experience.
- Three or more years of professional journalism experience.
- Strong audio reporting and production skills.
- Ability to generate dynamic, creative story ideas.
- Ability to shift journalistic modes quickly, from deadline reporting to deep investigative work to producing live events.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity in reporting and sourcing.
- Solid knowledge of Associated Press style, ability to exercise sound news judgment and follow KERA/NPR ethics and editorial standards.
- Passionate and enthusiastic about public media journalism and serving a diverse North Texas audience.
- Valid Texas Driver’s License and insurance required for assignments/activities that involve work outside of the office.
Preferred Qualifications
- Expertise in public health and/or mental health issues, particularly focused on disparities in communities of color.
- Public radio production experience.
- Experience directing and editing freelance reporters.
- Knowledge of North Texas people, cultures, issues and geography as well as national and international issues and events.
- Fluent in Spanish and/or other languages common in Texas.
- Experience with one or more of the following: multimedia production, particularly photography or video; hands-on audio editing and innovative audio storytelling; working with one or more content management systems; other relevant technical expertise.
How to Apply
- Complete the application on KERA’s employment page.
- Attach a resume and cover letter summarizing how you’d approach the job, professional accomplishments and qualifications, with links to recent audio/digital work samples. Please include how you found out about this position in your cover letter
Equal Employment Opportunity
KERA believes that diversity is crucial to our success. We are committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.
North Texas Public Broadcasting is an Equal Opportunity Employer.