Podcast Producer & Host

This application is for students attending The University of Southern Mississippi who are seeking a paid position or an internship for class credit with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center. If you are a non-USM student, please refer to our jobs page .

The Podcast Producer & Host helps develop and share the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s stories through engaging audio programming. This role is ideal for students who enjoy interviewing, writing and audio production — and who want hands‑on experience creating podcasts from concept to publication.

As the podcast producer and host, you’ll plan and record episodes that highlight the center’s reporting, media literacy projects and community voices. You’ll book and interview guests, write scripts, record narration and edit audio for clarity and pacing. The producer/host also collaborates with reporters, photographers, videographers and engagement staff to ensure each episode complements the center’s journalism and outreach efforts.

Your work will give audiences across Southeast Mississippi new ways to connect with timely, impactful stories while building a professional portfolio that showcases your creativity, interviewing skills and technical production abilities. Podcast producers are expected to work 20 hours per week during the semester.

• Pitch one (1) original story idea by 12:00 p.m. each Thursday, including primary and secondary sourcing.
• Attend weekly editorial meetings, held virtually and in person in College Hall on USM’s Hattiesburg campus, Fridays at 9:00 a.m.
• Plan, research and outline podcast episodes that highlight the center’s reporting, media literacy projects and community voices.
• Book and interview guests, write scripts, record narration and conduct on‑air conversations.
• Edit and mix audio for clarity, pacing and overall sound quality as needed.
• Collaborate with reporters, photographers/videographers, What Is True? producer and engagement staff to ensure episodes support and promote the center’s work.
• Upload and publish completed episodes, including show notes, cutlines and audio descriptions.
• Help promote episodes through the center’s website, newsletters and social media channels.
• Assist with marketing the center and center content.
• Other tasks as assigned.

The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center is a student‑powered newsroom at The University of Southern Mississippi, dedicated to reporting what matters in Southeast Mississippi’s underserved communities. We produce high‑impact, professional journalism that’s published across the state — and train students to do the kind of work that are top stories in real‑world newsrooms.

This role is ideal for junior or senior students with an interest in audio storytelling, interviewing and production who want hands‑on experience turning strong reporting into compelling podcasts. As the podcast producer and host, you’ll plan, record and edit episodes that feature the center’s journalism, media literacy projects and community voices. You’ll collaborate with reporters, photographers/videographers, What Is True? producer and engagement staff to craft episodes that expand the reach and impact of our stories.

Your work will help audiences across Southeast Mississippi connect with timely, meaningful reporting — and give you professional credits and portfolio pieces that showcase your creativity, interviewing skills and technical production abilities.