Latino Communities Reporter II
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Do you want to help amplify voices in communities that have not always been in the spotlight? Do you want to build trust and connections with people who have been historically underserved by mainstream media?
Connecticut Public, Connecticut’s statewide NPR and PBS service, is seeking a multiplatform, bilingual journalist who can report on the state’s growing Latino population and tell memorable stories that inspire deeper connection. This person will be a key collaborator with our Latino Initiative, called Somos Connecticut, an organization-wide effort to expand our reporting, programming and engagement with Latino communities. Nearly 20% of Connecticut residents identify as Latino or Hispanic, and almost half of those Latinos are of Puerto Rican descent. The reporter builds a network of sources across all walks of life and delivers compelling, people-centered storytelling on digital, social and radio broadcast. These stories will range from daily news to in-depth features, focusing on life within Latino communities across Connecticut – from cities to small towns – and topics that intersect with Latinos’ everyday lives, including public health, government, education, housing and arts and culture.
This journalist should have a passion for engaging Latinos in our storytelling and for reporting news in clear and accessible ways, including through short-form video and platforms such as Instagram in collaboration with our social media team. They will work regularly with news editors and with the editor of our Latino Initiative.
There will also be opportunities for the Latino Communities reporter to collaborate with Connecticut Public colleagues throughout the organization on initiatives to connect with and attract Latino audiences, such as community events.
This reporter must be able to interview sources and communicate fluently in both English and Spanish. They’ll be based in our Hartford office.
We recognize candidates might not fit every qualification. If that’s you, we still encourage you to apply. Let us know about you and your talents.
At Connecticut Public, we’re working to build something special – a nonprofit newsroom with high standards, high expectations and where people do some of the best work of their careers. We want to be a place where journalists can be their authentic selves and be creative and imaginative, producing journalism that is relevant, impactful, meaningful and memorable.
Description
Expected Compensation Range: 46,640.00 - 69,960.00
General Summary
The Latino Communities reporter focuses on the growing Latino population in Connecticut and helps amplify voices in communities that have traditionally been underserved in mainstream media. The reporter builds a network of sources across all walks of life, making authentic connections and delivering a variety of compelling, people-centered stories to broadcast and digital audiences -- from daily, shorter radio newscast stories to in-depth features and digital pieces. The reporter focuses on life within Latino communities, from cities to suburbs to small towns. They work closely with our ongoing Latino Initiative, called Somos Connecticut, and its editor, as well as our visuals and social media teams to collaborate on social media stories that resonate with Latino communities. The reporter is passionate about engaging Latinos in our storytelling and producing multiplatform journalism. This reporter is fully bilingual and able to conduct interviews fluently in English and Spanish. They also collaborate with Connecticut Public colleagues on our organization’s efforts to build deeper connections with Latinos, including audience engagement and community events.
Essential Functions
The Latino Communities Reporter provides a wide range of services. Applicants must have the ability to complete the following essential functions:
Build sources, develop ideas and work with editors and colleagues on daily broadcast and digital stories, as well as longer-term stories.
Collaborate with visual journalists every step of the way – as an assignment emerges, at the scene of a story and through the final publication of a digital piece.
Edit audio, focusing on compelling soundbites and sound-rich scenes.
Record audio in person in the field and on assignment; record audio in virtual settings; record audio from livestreams.
Research, write, report, edit and voice a wide variety of stories and series for radio and online, as well as social media.
Work with our Latino Initiative, Somos Connecticut, on a variety of efforts, from community events and outreach to story brainstorming to source development.
Work with our social media team to develop engaging social media storytelling that resonates with Latino communities.
Work with editors and colleagues to help set our newsroom’s daily coverage agenda and collaborate regularly with CT Public’s editor of the Latino Initiative on engagement strategies.
Write broadcast stories and digital stories.
Work to diversify voices in CT Public news coverage on air and online.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Responsibilities
This position has many responsibilities. Duties include, but are not limited to:
Be inclusive, interviewing people from a variety of backgrounds, especially people who are underrepresented in media.
Carries out most responsibilities in the field or in the office, is readily available for collaboration and consultation within the newsroom and across the organization and fill in with reporting needs as circumstances require.
Collaborate with the newsroom and other departments on optimal placement of stories, whether it be a local radio newscast, online or via NPR.
Serve as a resource for radio talk shows and appear on the air as a guest.
Serve as fill-in host and on-air fundraiser as needed.
Transcend the daily news agenda to tell impactful, important, sound-rich stories about people.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
AP and NPR style.
Editing and news tools that support reporting, including Word, Excel, Audition and Digital editing apps.
Microsoft Office applications, including O365suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Project and Outlook).
Mission and purpose of CT Public.
News judgement and an understanding of how to write for radio and broadcast about state and New England regional issues and current events.
Skill in:
A diverse sense of storytelling in words, audio and video.
Attention to detail, scheduling and strong organizational skills.
Audio editing and/or a strong interest in sound-rich storytelling.
Collaborating across the newsroom using strong interpersonal skills.
Embracing and encouraging the use of new techniques and technologies.
High-level fluency in Spanish and English languages
Impeccable news judgment and outstanding writing and editing skills.
Reporting and writing for digital and social media audiences to expand and grow our digital and social presence.
Telling local journalism with impact and possessing the courage to take on difficult subjects.
Ability to:
Adjust on the fly during interviews.
Maintain high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of balance, transparency and fairness that meet CT Public, NPR and PBS editorial standards in order to produce regional and national-quality broadcasting;
Possess a visceral distaste for office politics and gossip.
Possess initiative and self-motivation, and work with minimal supervision.
Self-starter who brings story ideas to editors on a regular basis.
Take creative direction, feedback and constructive criticism with grace.
Work with reporters, editors and producers in environments that include remote offices.
Work in fast-paced environment making smart, fast, solid editorial decisions, under pressure, under strict deadlines.
Work Environment
Some job functions are performed under conditions similar to those found in general office or administrative work; however, the reporter will often be in the field and conducting in-person interviews. This position may be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Position Type / Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, hourly non-exempt position. It is the nature of the position to experience non-standard working hours and be on-call when needed for story development or breaking news. Reporters traditionally perform work Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; although, weekend, evening, and holiday hours will be necessary. This is a hybrid role blended with remote and on-site time at our Hartford-based location.
Physical Demands
The physical activities of this position may include frequent in-person or virtual interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods, speak clearly so others can understand, see details of objects that are between a few feet and more than a few feet away, focus on one sound an ignore others, use fingers to grasp move or assemble small objects. High stress environment with deadline pressures. Additionally, the employee must have the ability to concentrate for extended periods with frequent interruption, understand, and relate, to the concepts behind specific ideas. The typical physical requirements are: standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, and repetitive motion. These physical demands, with or without reasonable accommodations, are required to perform the essential functions of this job.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or a similar elevant field AND a minimum of two-to-three (2-3) years’ of direct and sustained professional work experience AND/OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Strong record of achievement in reporting is preferred.