Breaking News Reporter

KERA’s Breaking News Reporter covers breaking and general assignment stories with a strong emphasis on quick-turn daily news.

KERA’s Breaking News Reporter covers breaking and general assignment stories with a strong emphasis on quick-turn daily news.

Serving the country’s fourth-largest media market, KERA reaches more than 5 million people monthly through KERA TV, KERA News, KXT, WRR and The Denton Record-Chronicle as well as through national shows Think and From the Top. For more than 65 years, North Texans have turned to KERA as a destination for community engagement and lifelong learning.

As we seek to recognize and reflect our audience and communities, we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and points of view to consider employment opportunities at KERA.

The person in the Breaking News role is a lead reporter for most breaking news outside of KERA’s beat structure. This reporter will also occasionally work in a supporting role on breaking news stories led by beat reporters and editors across the newsroom. This reporter must be versatile, productive and resilient, with an ability to write, voice and produce quick-turn daily stories on multiple topics affecting all North Texans and occasionally dive into bigger-picture general assignment reporting — all while remaining firmly rooted in the ethics and standards of public media.

We’re looking for a strong radio and digital reporter who’s comfortable going live on the radio.

The position is based in Dallas, with statewide and national reach: KERA leads The Texas Newsroom - a landmark regional news hub of public radio stations across the state and NPR.

This position is classified as FLSA non-exempt, is eligible for overtime and reports to the Managing Editor, KERA News.

• Write, voice and produce engaging, quick-turn stories from the field or in the newsroom for radio and digital platforms.
• Find creative ways to report on news that touches everyone, with an emphasis on breaking and general assignment reporting delivered with the context and creativity public radio is known for. The goal:
  High impact with deep substance.
• Develop distinctive digital and audio stories focused in the KERA listening area in North Texas, with statewide and national context and impact.
• Work collaboratively as part of KERA’s team to contribute compelling story ideas and experiment with innovative storytelling techniques.
• Create and participate in online and in-person events.
• Cover breaking news in North Texas and beyond, sometimes outside the scope of the beat; this can include work outside the standard 9-5 business hours as needed.
• Participate in the rotating on-call schedule for the Newsroom.
• Participate in extensive training opportunities in the newsroom, in departments across KERA and across the state with The Texas Newsroom.
• Actively participate in KERA fundraising campaigns

• Work in a manner that is consistent with KERA’s mission, vision and values; and maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures
• Participate in fundraising activities as needed and assigned
• Perform additional duties as assigned

This list of job duties is not exhaustive and is subject to regular reviews and updates

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 think you’re the right person for the job, we'd like to hear from you.

• Passion for journalism.
• Demonstrated research, writing, and reporting skills.
• The highest journalistic and ethical standards, with dedication to accuracy, fairness and…