Morning Edition Host & Producer - Illinois Public Media

Job Summary

The Morning Edition Host & Producer is responsible for serving as the local on-air voice for Morning Edition, integrating national NPR programming with timely local news, weather, traffic, and station content. This position hosts and operates live morning broadcasts, writes and produces newscasts under deadline pressure, conducts and edits interviews, supports digital content efforts, and engages with communities throughout the region to strengthen local coverage and audience connection.

Live Broadcast & Board Operation

• Host and anchor the local broadcast of Morning Edition, delivering a confident, conversational, and authentic on-air presence.
• Operate the digital audio control board and automation systems under live broadcast conditions.
• Seamlessly integrate local newscasts, weather, traffic, and promotional breaks while strictly hitting national network time posts.
• Maintain absolute composure and improvisational agility on-air during technical failures or breaking news.

News Production & Editorial Judgment

• Monitor overnight developments, wire services, and local beats to stack, write, and edit fresh hourly newscasts.
• Rapidly synthesize complex information into clear, accurate, and objective copy during severe weather or public safety events.
• Conduct, record, and edit high-quality interviews (“two-ways”) with local news makers and regional reporters.
• Actively participate in daily newsroom editorial meetings, contributing story ideas and ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in coverage.

Digital & Station Support

• Repurpose morning audio assets, interviews, and features for digital platforms, such as vertical videos, podcasts, and newsletters.
• Serve as a primary on-air talent and pitch-producer during station membership and fundraising drives.

Community Engagement

• Travel to libraries in the region to connect with the communities they cover, focusing on rural and underserved communities outside Champaign-Urbana.
• Host pop-up displays to talk with community members about ongoing issues, speak with people one-on-one and promote surveys.
• Conduct, record, and edit high-quality interviews (“two-ways”) with local residents or news makers to help build the regional presence.

Any one or any combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) of the following types of preparation:

• Progressively more responsible work experience in the production and presentation of radio or television programs, social media, and/or print or online journalism.
• Vocational training in radio and/or television production, journalism, social media, news or feature writing and/or announcing or closely related fields.
• College coursework in radio/television, journalism, social media, news or feature writing or closely related fields.
• 60 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months).
• 75 semester hours equals one (1) year and six (6) months (18 months).
• 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months).
• 120 semester hours or a Bachelor’s degree equals three (3) years (36 months).

• Experience in public radio.
• 2–5 years of demonstrated experience in a live broadcast environment.
• Demonstrated experience in audio editing, digital board operation, and production software utilization.

• Exceptional Journalism:
  Sound ethical judgment with a fierce commitment to accuracy, fairness, balance, and public media standards.
• Broadcast Writing:
  The ability to write tight, conversational copy under extreme deadline pressure.
• Adaptability: A flexible team player who enjoys working across reporting, technical, and digital production roles.
• Community Connection: A deep curiosity about regional issues, politics, culture, and geography.
• Utility Journalism:
  The ability to translate complex regional developments into clear, practical, locally grounded journalism that helps listeners understand how the news affects their daily lives.

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 4521 – Media Writer/Producer/Announcer I position. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The budgeted salary range for this position is…