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.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- 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, SpeakPipe, 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.
Application Materials Required:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- 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 is proud to provide priority placement at Pitter Patter Preschool & Childcare located in the Interlochen Community Center, near our campus, for employees' dependents. In addition, Interlochen employees may be eligible for the MI Tri-Share Program. This program shares the cost of childcare between the state of Michigan, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the employee (The employee will only pay 1/3 of the total cost, if eligible). Income guidelines and more information about MI Tri-Share can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/mwc/initiatives/mi-tri-share-child-care.