Senior Reporter, Investigations

Who We Are:

Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) is a member-supported public media network whose mission is to strengthen the civic and cultural bonds that unite Southern California's diverse communities by providing the highest quality news and information service on air at 89.3 KPCC, online at LAist.com and through KPCC In Person. Since our founding in 1999, SCPR has been a fast growing, innovative, multi-platform public service newsroom. Every day, our staff helps audiences catch up on the latest headlines, solve the complexities of life in Southern California, and connect curious communities to one another.

Position Summary:

We are looking for an experienced investigative reporter to carry on our newsroom’s legacy of holding the powerful to account. The ideal candidate is savvy with data and public records, quick on their feet, and comfortable telling their stories across multiple platforms.

This is an exciting time to join KPCC and LAist, where we are committed to innovation and inclusion — from the stories we cover to the audiences we aim to reach and the staff we’ve nurtured.

As a member of our award-winning investigative team you will report to the senior editor of investigations and work closely with another investigative reporter. You will produce digital and radio features throughout the year, as well as at least one annual marquee project. The investigative unit is committed to increasing skills across the newsroom, including through brown bag sessions, and assisting colleagues who are working on in-depth reporting.

We’re known as leaders in engaged journalism, an approach that prioritizes listening to community members and responding to their questions and concerns. This is integral to our investigative unit and are eager to hear from candidates who have that background or want to learn.

Please include a cover letter with what you see as some of the most critical, yet underreported issues, ideally in Southern California. We’d like to hear from you also about ways you incorporate inclusion into your own work ethic and reporting.

Compensation:

The pay rate for this opportunity will be no less than $36.89 per hour. Exact pay rate determined by experience and education related to the role, organizational compensation structure and internal equity.

Position Responsibilities:

• Pitch, report and produce stories and features that include data, public records, and novel analyses as well as hold the powerful to account
• Understands and deploys our promise to practice diversity, equity, and inclusion in how we assign, report, edit, produce, and distribute our journalism.
• Write, assemble, edit, track and mix stories for air and digital.
• Join shows and events as a subject matter expert.
• Work with editors to establish priorities and goals that are in line with investigative unit goals.
• Work with editors and other colleagues to help enhance investigative reporting across the newsroom.
• Work closely with our engagement team to understand audience needs to develop relationships, and build collaborations with stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Five years or more of reporting or professional journalism or applicable experience.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Strong writing and investigative reporting skills.
• Demonstrated radio reporting, digital news and production skills, or ability and willingness to learn.
• Ability to use sound, when available, to create scenes that engage the listener and convey the emotion of the story.
  Professional on-air delivery, or ability and willingness to learn.
• Ability to perform a variety of assignments well and completely.
• Ability to use interviews, documents and public records, Internet tools and social media to gather information, report and tell stories.
• Proven familiarity with social media platforms and how audiences are using them.
• Commitment to learn and enact best journalism practices.
• Experience in or familiarity with public radio news.
• Ability to consistently produce timely and substantive reports on a tight deadline.
• General and developing knowledge of beat.
• Fully competent in use of recording and production equipment or ready and willing to train and quickly become proficient.
• Ability to work simultaneously on short and long-term projects.
• Ability to deliver stories with fully developed on-air style and originality in writing.
• Ability to deliver analytical reporting.
• Capacity to report complex stories quickly - quick turnaround.
• Ability to develop stories with multiple interviews, scene changes, and strong knowledge of subject matter.
• Ability to deliver stories authoritatively, competently.
• Become and remain a member in good standing of SAG-AFTRA by the thirtieth (30th) day of employment.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Fluency in Spanish is preferred. Fluency in other languages is desirable.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• May travel at times.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to manage some work outside of standard office hours as needed.

Physical Demands:

• Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time
• Required to move about in the community
• Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping

Working Conditions:

• Moderate noise level

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply.