Blue Ridge Public Radio
General Assignment Reporter
General Assignment Reporter
73 Broadway St
Asheville, NC
Full-Time
Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR), the nonprofit public media organization serving Western North Carolina, is seeking a General Assignment Reporter.
We're looking for a curious, collaborative multimedia journalist to help our audiences understand the issues, people, culture and communities shaping life in Western North Carolina. You'll cover a wide range of stories across the Asheville metropolitan area, build trusted source relationships, and produce journalism that informs, engages and reflects the region we serve.
At BPR, you will work across platforms and are encouraged to pursue stories that matter to our communities. While much of this role focuses on daily news reporting, the General Assignment Reporter will have the opportunity to develop enterprise and longform stories as you build expertise and source networks throughout the region.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working on deadline, eager to generate story ideas, and committed to collaborating with editors to strengthen reporting, writing, and audio and digital storytelling.
We welcome applicants with diverse experiences and perspectives who can help us strengthen our coverage and better serve our audiences.
Reporting to the News Director, you'll produce journalism for broadcast radio, digital platforms, social media, and emerging formats. You'll pitch and report stories, collaborate with colleagues across the newsroom, and work efficiently in a deadline-driven environment.
Required Qualifications
We're looking for a curious, collaborative multimedia journalist to help our audiences understand the issues, people, culture and communities shaping life in Western North Carolina. You'll cover a wide range of stories across the Asheville metropolitan area, build trusted source relationships, and produce journalism that informs, engages and reflects the region we serve.
At BPR, you will work across platforms and are encouraged to pursue stories that matter to our communities. While much of this role focuses on daily news reporting, the General Assignment Reporter will have the opportunity to develop enterprise and longform stories as you build expertise and source networks throughout the region.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working on deadline, eager to generate story ideas, and committed to collaborating with editors to strengthen reporting, writing, and audio and digital storytelling.
We welcome applicants with diverse experiences and perspectives who can help us strengthen our coverage and better serve our audiences.
Reporting to the News Director, you'll produce journalism for broadcast radio, digital platforms, social media, and emerging formats. You'll pitch and report stories, collaborate with colleagues across the newsroom, and work efficiently in a deadline-driven environment.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Three or more years of professional journalism experience.
- Demonstrated excellence in reporting, writing, interviewing and research.
- Ability to produce accurate and engaging journalism under deadline.
- Experience working both independently and collaboratively in a newsroom environment.
- Proficiency with digital publishing platforms and social media tools.
- Ability to gather and edit audio for broadcast and digital storytelling.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout BPR's coverage area.
- Ability to lift and carry reporting equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Must live in or be willing to relocate to the Asheville metropolitan area.
- Experience reporting for a public media organization.
- Experience producing radio news spots, features or longform audio stories.
- Video production and editing experience.
- Knowledge of western North Carolina or demonstrated ability to quickly learn about a new coverage area.
- Experience with audience engagement, newsletters, or social media content creation.
• Medical Insurance (80% paid)
• Dental Insurance (80% paid)
• Vision Insurance (80% paid)
• Short-term Disability
• Long-term Disability
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 5% Match
• Life Insurance
• Phone/Internet Stipend
• Parking
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Development Opportunities
Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) exists to provide Western North Carolinians with a deeper understanding of one another and the world - by being an essential, independent source of trusted news and cultural content.
BPR is an independent, nonprofit news and media organization producing award-winning journalism and cultural programming that inspires, informs, connects, and reflects the people and places of Western North Carolina. Our two broadcast services and digital platforms reach more than 650,000 people across 14 Appalachian counties.
BPR's blind initial screening process helps ensure fairness in hiring. Personal identifiers (such as name, gender, age, race, and educational institutions) are removed from initial materials so our review focuses only on each candidate's skills and experience. This is one of the ways that we actively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across our operations. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as members of traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities.
BPR is an independent, nonprofit news and media organization producing award-winning journalism and cultural programming that inspires, informs, connects, and reflects the people and places of Western North Carolina. Our two broadcast services and digital platforms reach more than 650,000 people across 14 Appalachian counties.
BPR's blind initial screening process helps ensure fairness in hiring. Personal identifiers (such as name, gender, age, race, and educational institutions) are removed from initial materials so our review focuses only on each candidate's skills and experience. This is one of the ways that we actively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across our operations. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as members of traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities.
What you'll do at BPR:
- Report and produce 3-4 short stories per week for broadcast and digital platforms.
- Generate story ideas and respond to breaking and developing news.
- Build and maintain relationships with sources and communities throughout the coverage area.
- Conduct interviews and gather high quality audio and photos in the field.
- Write clear, accurate and engaging stories for radio and digital audiences.
- Collaborate with editors to strengthen reporting, storytelling, and audience impact.
- Contribute to social media and audience engagement efforts.
- Pursue enterprise and longform projects as assigned.
- Participate in editorial meetings, develop story ideas for the news department, and contribute to team collaborations.
- Employ the highest journalistic standards for fairness, accuracy, and integrity
- Follow public media ethical standards, local and AP editorial guidelines, and BPR policies and procedures.
- Actively pitch stories to NPR and other national/regional programs to expand representation of WNC in national/regional news coverage.
- Work occasional nights and weekends and some extended hours during breaking news and special coverage situations.
- Participate in on-air and digital fundraising initiatives.
- Participate in station events.
- Regularly participate in professional development opportunities.
- Other duties, as assigned.
- Authorized to work in the US without sponsorship
- Lift up to 25 pounds (field gear)
- Accept a background check to be performed
- Physically work in Asheville (not remote)
Blue Ridge Public Radio is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Blue Ridge Public Radio are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, generation, family or parental status, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.