IPR News Community Engagement Reporter; Year-Round

IPR News Community Engagement Reporter (Year-Round)

Job Tracking  :

Job Location :Interlochen, MI

Job Level :Mid Career

Level of Education :BA/BS

Job Type :Full-Time/Regular

Date Updated :06/03/2026

Years of Experience :2+ Years

Salary : $50,000 USD Annually - $57,000 USD Annually

Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) is looking for a talented journalist to join our award-winning and enterprise-focused newsroom. This person will build strong connections between our work and the community we serve while covering news for broadcast and online audiences in northern Michigan, a scenic region featuring big water, lush forests and a vibrant community of smart and creative people. For the ideal candidate, this is an opportunity to do excellent reporting while also shaping the future of a beloved public radio service in a changing media landscape.

• Cover general assignment news for broadcast and digital platforms.
• Manage community engagement for IPR News by communicating with area residents about issues that matter to them and developing deep stories that shed light on life in our region.
• Support other reporters in their community engagement efforts.
• Write and compile the weekly IPR News e-mail newsletter, which has a strong following.
• Routinely appear on live radio to discuss reporting and audience feedback, gathered via in-person communication, phone calls, email, Speak Pipe, the IPR app, social media and other platforms.
• Share IPR’s reporting across digital platforms, including social media.
• Weigh in on the final presentation of stories and how they can best appear on digital platforms.
• Participate in membership drives and promotional efforts to support IPR’s funding initiatives.
• Attend station-sponsored and community events to enhance visibility, engage with the audience, and build public trust in local journalism.
• Support additional newsroom activities as directed by the news director, including breaking news coverage and special projects.
• Approximately 60% of this job focuses on traditional reporting; 40% is community engagement work.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Familiarity with professional journalism best practices, including ethical reporting standards.
• Knowledge of fundamental reporting techniques and storytelling for both audio and digital platforms.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience working with digital publishing and social media platforms.
• Experience with field recording equipment, including recorders, microphones, headphones, and related accessories.
• Familiarity with digital audio editing software such as Adobe Audition and proficiency with standard word processing software.
• Photography skills and experience with broadcast automation systems are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and thrive in a collaborative newsroom environment.
• Commitment to producing accurate, engaging, original, community-focused journalism.
• Must be based in or willing to work from IPR’s Interlochen newsroom.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation, Sick, Holiday and generous winter holiday time off
• Life insurance
• Voluntary life insurance
• Short and long-term disability
• Employee development & tuition reimbursement programs
• 403(b) plan, managed by TIAA
• Free or discounted employee tickets to Interlochen performances and events (some exceptions apply)
• Early event ticket purchase before general public sales begin
• Free Stone Cafeteria meal on shift
• Dennison Recreation Center accessibility (includes spouses)
• Priority access to Interlochen employees at Pitter Patter Day Care Center (less than one mile from campus)
• Employee Referral Program (cash payments)
• Tuition discounts for employee’s children at Academy, Camp and Interlochen Online
• Parental leave (12 weeks paid for Pregnancy/Maternity/Childbirth leave, 6 weeks paid for Parental leave).

Interlochen Center for the Arts provides priority placement at Pitter Patter Preschool & Childcare located in the Interlochen Community Center, near our campus, for employees' dependents. Employees may be eligible for the MI Tri-Share Program. The program shares the cost of childcare between the state of Michigan, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the employee (employee pays one-third of the cost, if eligible).

Interlochen Center for the Arts provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, genetics, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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