Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

Researches, writes, produces, and airs weekly stories of local, state, or national interest for KUER radio.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Broadcasting, or a related field, or equivalency; one year of previous professional experience in the news field; demonstrated oral and written communications skills; and an understanding of Public Radio and radio broadcasting required. Production skills are needed to edit and rerecord final story formats.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

1. Researches various information sources for possible topics and develops list to be turned into stories that will be produced on the air.
2. Selects specific topic and focuses in on the issues to be covered in the news story. Selects individuals to interview that have the expertise or interest in the subject area.
3. Performs interviews by recording conversations that will be used as part of the news stories when aired.
4. Registers interview tapes and natural sound tapes in log and identifies the story they are involved with.
5. Reviews interview tapes and sound tapes to determine what portion of the interview and what sound to use in the final story.
6. Records those portions of the interview and the natural sound in the order that they will air on 1/2" audio tape in order to mix and produce the final story.
7. Writes the narrative to be inserted into the story at specific points in order to smooth the story out. This may require the reporter to review all the materials gathered on a particular story in order to create an accurate account.
8. The Reporter records the voice narration needed to complete the story, and performs the final mix of the narration, the interview and sounds to form the final story as it will air on KUER.

Problem Solving

The position has the authority to set the direction of an assigned story. This authority may include who to interview and what questions may be asked. The position is also given authority for the creative atmosphere, writing style, and final contents of specific assignments.

Problems encountered in this position may include developing a list and researching those topics that could be turned into news stories, focusing in on specific elements of a specific topic and collecting appropriate natural sound tapes. Other problems are determining appropriate individuals to interview that may enhance the accuracy and listener appeal of the story, and in editing the final story so that it is of a quality nature and meets the standards of KUER radio and the Public Radio Network.