News & Public Affairs Director

Position: News and Public Affairs Director

Status: Salaried and exempt, 40 hours per week

Reports to: WORT Board of Directors

Union Representation: IBEW Local 2304

Works under: Administrative/General Direction (see Appendix)

Job Summary 

As a member of the Staff Collective, the News and Public Affairs Director is accountable for the successful management of roughly twenty (20) hours per week of on-air news, talk and public affairs programming production for WORT involving approximately 150 programming volunteers. They are responsible for fifteen (15) locally–produced programs, including three (3) daily programs (a morning drive show, a midday hour-long interview and call-in show, and an hour-long local evening news show) and twelve (12) weekly news, public affairs and special interest programs, as well as several syndicated news programs. The News and Public Affairs Director is responsible for developing a multitude of strong, clear voices across these programs. The News and Public Affairs Director will achieve the goals for this position through hiring, training and oversight of large numbers of volunteer staff across a range of news and public affairs programs, and ensure uninterrupted, quality news and public affairs programming for WORT’s listening audience.

Primary Responsibilities:

The News and Public Affairs Director is responsible for:

1. Staffing (50%) Recruit, hire, and ensure the training, supervision and evaluation of roughly 150 news and public affairs volunteers/ interns/ work-study, and two (2) part- time paid assistant News Assistants, following WORT’s policies. Staffing oversight includes assignment of tasks to ensure journalistic standards and coverage for all on-air shifts, and ensuring uninterrupted airtime of news and public affairs programming, totaling roughly 20 hours per week.
   1. Recruiting and hiring (10%) Conduct needs assessments for each program’s staffing request, draft and update position descriptions; create web posts and publicize news opportunities; attend job fairs; conduct outreach through local colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and community groups
   2. Placement and training (10%) Meet with prospective volunteers, assess skills and identify appropriate volunteer-program matches, provide station orientations, and assist volunteers with initial WORT volunteer networking; create and update training procedures and materials, including developing and carrying out individualized training plans for incoming volunteers; organize group trainings as appropriate; mentor aspiring journalists and provide editorial direction
   3. Supervision and Evaluation (10%) Conduct program evaluations; invite feedback and foster communication; assess performance and achievement and schedule appropriate follow up; identify further training and advancement opportunities and opportunities for recognition; mediate grievances, complaints and disputes; assist with substitute needs/ requests; respond to emergency staffing situations
   4. Ensure Program Continuity (10%) Ensure uninterrupted airtime of news and public affairs programming by developing emergency procedures; finding substitute producers, editing recorded programs and/or staffing programs oneself (including producing, hosting, and running the sound board) as needed. Ensuring program continuity requires being on-call during all broadcasts if not physically present at the station, and being familiar with every program’s format and technical requirements
   5. Manage Transitions (10%) Set expectations about proper notice for leaves of absence, schedule changes, and resignations; develop short term plans of action when volunteers quit unexpectedly or with short notice; fill vacancies personally when no other subs are available
2. Programming (25%)
   1. Program Acquisition (5%) Oversee satellite programming and acquisition recommendations; manage syndicated program feeds; review program proposals; keep current on available syndicated radio programs for consideration on WORT
   2. Live Remotes and Special Coverage Events (5%) Manage live remote broadcasts and coordinate special coverage for elections and other news events
   3. Web and Social Coverage. (10%) Help develop workflow, production schedule, and best practices for digital content. With staff collective, recruit, train, and manage web and social content producers.
   4. Programming Committee (5%) Serve as an active member of the Programming Committee which makes decisions (subject to approval by the Board of Directors) regarding new programming/ major programming changes. This includes acquiring and interpreting information necessary to ascertain WORT’s listenership and potential listenership; identifying underserved communities; creating tools and strategies to evaluate program performance using formal means, and recommending programming changes when appropriate; providing feedback and training and monitoring ongoing performance of music hosts and volunteers. May also include preparing committee informational binders for new members, and helping to publicize committee vacancies.
3. Studio Operations (5%): Manage newsroom equipment. In the absence of an engineer on staff, take primary accountability for studio operations to ensure they are functional and programming is uninterrupted. Problem-solving includes but is not limited to fixing computers, headphones, mics, and other studio equipment. Recommend purchases needed for studio operation
4. Ethics and Journalistic Standards (5%) Ensure staff and volunteers adhere to standards for ethical journalism practice to ensure WORT consistently meets legal requirements and maintains its reputation for journalistic integrity and quality
5. FCC Compliance (5%) Ensure Compliance with the Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations (FCC) by:
   1. Developing procedures, and creating and providing training to ensure procedures are carried out among all news and public affairs staff and volunteers (including on topics such as the need to ensure equal airtime for political candidates, to process appropriate paperwork for “critical issues”, and to use the profanity delay appropriately)
   2. Following up with staff and volunteers to ensure compliance post-training
   3. Maintaining the Public Inspection File, according to the specifications of the D.C. Law Firm, Garvey, Schubert and Barer, who provide legal counsel pertaining to FCC regulations
   4. Making recommendations to the WORT Board of Directors for software/ hardware needs to meet volunteer needs in light of FCC requirements
   5. Preparing reports as requested

6. Fundraising Drive Support (5%) Supports fundraising drives by assisting News/Talk hosts and producers to find appropriate guests for pledge drive shows; editing pledge drive syndicated shows to provide breaks for fundraising; recruiting and orienting on-air fundraising partners (“pledge rappers”) for news and talk programs; assisting with on-air fundraising as needed; and answering phones as needed. Provides Donor Relations Director with spreadsheet of shows, host(s), and fundraising partners (rappers) at least two weeks before the first day of the drive.

7. Other tasks as determined by the Board of Directors

Secondary Responsibilities:

The News and Public Affairs Director is secondarily responsible for:

1. General Administrative Functions (5%)
   1. Staff Meetings: Attend weekly staff meetings, and facilitate and or take notes as needed
   2. Committee Work: Represent staff on committees as needed; serve on hiring committees as needed;
   3. Reporting: Preparing weekly staff reports, monthly committee reports, monthly board reports, the annual membership report, and the annual News and Public Affairs Budget.
   4. Newsletters: Write volunteer newsletter articles and donor newsletter articles as needed
2. Professional Development (as schedule and funding allows): Maintain personal currency in the field. Attend conferences and trainings, as appropriate.
3. Grant Writing (as schedule allows): Identify potential sources of funding for news department activities; Write proposal narratives

Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree Desired Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience as a working broadcast journalist.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience managing, coaching and/or mentoring others.
• Prior experience in recruitment/ hiring to ensure candidates selected to host on-air shows or perform in off-air roles are qualified to meet expectations
• Demonstrated history of successful project management experience (adhering to established timelines and budgets, and meeting targeted outcomes)
• Proven ability to work within a diverse volunteer, listener and donor community
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with digital audio editing software
• Proficiency with studio and field recording equipment
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively in the face of multiple, competing and emerging/ shifting priorities
• Must possess or have access to a vehicle for travel to the site of emerging news stories and/or to transport volunteers who don’t have cars

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with noncommercial radio
• Experience with non-profit organizational management
• Proficiency with web and social media tools
• Knowledge of non-commercial broadcast and media law
• Familiarity with local and/or state political and media landscape

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• Demonstrated integrity and ethical judgment in a newsroom
• Consistently met deadlines
• Are committed to training and mentoring journalists
• Are committed to producing high-quality programming
• Are able to collaborate across generations and cultures
• Strong self-management and time management skills
• Proficiency or more in Spanish or Hmong language

Working Conditions:

The News and Public Affairs Director will work in an office setting the majority of the time, requiring sitting (or standing) for long periods of time at a computer; and communicating by telephone and email. Dress code at WORT-FM is casual, though coverage of news events may require professional dress. This position requires availability for work hours during the evening and weekends, particularly during pledge drives, and for Board Meetings if nominated by the Staff Collective to serve as staff representative to the WORT Board of Directors.

Benefits:

As a full-time position, the News and Public Affairs Director is in the collective bargaining unit represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2304, with its wages and benefits set by the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the WORT Board of Directors.

Benefits provided under the 2024–2026 contract include three (3) weeks paid vacation, eight (8) paid holidays, twelve (12) paid personal days, full health insurance, dental insurance, disability coverage, 2% employer-paid retirement benefit, and a paid one (1) hour lunch daily on full workdays.

Statement of Non-Discrimination:

WORT-FM does not discriminate in its employment practices with regard to age, ancestry, arrest record, color, conviction record, creed, cultural background, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, military obligations, national origin, race, sex, or sexual orientation.

Appendix: Levels of Supervision/Direction

• Direct or close supervision

1. 1. • Supervisor or lead provides daily oversight of work activities.
      • Employee is given specific instructions regarding duties to perform, assignments to complete and sequence of work steps and processes to follow.
      • Employee follows clearly defined work procedures, processes, formats, and priorities.
      • Work is frequently reviewed for accuracy, completion, and adherence to instructions and established standards, processes and procedures.

• General supervision

1. 1. • Employee performs recurring assignments without daily oversight by applying established guidelines, policies, procedures, and work methods.
      • Employee prioritizes day-to-day work tasks. Supervisor provides guidance and must approve deviation from established guidelines, policies, procedures, and work methods.
      • Decision-making is limited in context to the completion of work tasks. Completed work is consistent with established guidelines, policies, procedures and work methods. Supervisory guidance is provided in new or unusual situations.
      • Work is periodically reviewed for compliance with guidelines, policies and procedures.

• General direction

1. 1. • Employee independently performs all assignments using knowledge of established policies and work objectives.
      • Employee plans and organizes the work and assists in determining priorities and deadlines. May deviate from standard work methods, guidelines or procedures in order to meet work objectives.
      • Employee exercises independent decision-making authority and discretion to decide which work methods to use, tasks to perform and procedures to follow to meet work objectives.
      • Completed work is reviewed for effectiveness in producing expected results.

• Administrative direction

1. • Employee works independently within the scope and context of rules, regulations, and employer objectives.
   • Employee independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects and studies in accordance with broad policy statements or legal requirements.
   • Employee exercises independent decision-making authority for determining work objectives and goals to be accomplished.
   • Completed work is reviewed for compliance with laws and regulations and adherence to program goals, objectives, budgetary limitations, and general employer policies.