Kansas Statehouse Bureau Chief
The University of Kansas

Position OverviewKansas Public Radio (KPR), at the University of Kansas, is seeking a Statehouse Bureau Chief. This position works primarily at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. The position duties include managing all aspects of KPR's capital news bureau, which provides broadcast and digital news reports to a number of radio stations in Kansas and Missouri. This position is primarily responsible for reporting on all aspects of state government. This includes but is not limited to covering the Kansas legislative session, the governor, attorney general, supreme court, the state's congressional delegation and statewide elections.

The KPR Statehouse Bureau Chief researches, writes, reports and produces spot news, digital stories and long-form audio features for KPR and its reporting partners. The KPR Statehouse Bureau Chief is an integral part of a Regional Journalism Collaboration (RJC) involving the Kansas News Service (KNS), based at KCUR Radio in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas Statehouse Bureau Chief falls under the immediate supervision of the KPR News Director but receives supervision and direction from both the KPR News Director and KNS editors.


Job Description60% Manages all aspects of the Kansas Statehouse News Bureau in Topeka

• Researching, writing and presenting daily spot news and feature stories about state government, the Kansas Legislature, state Supreme Court and other agencies.
• Serves as KPR's lead election reporter and helps plan statewide election coverage.
• Provides daily news reports to KPR and its affiliate stations Monday through Friday. These reports may include interviews, features and newscast material (self-contained spots as well as anchor scripts with soundbites).
• Meets daily deadlines while maintaining high standards of digital production and story accuracy.
• Stays abreast of state government developments and builds a broad base of knowledge, sources, and expertise on statewide issues and topics.

20% Additional news coverage duties

• Covers other stories of statewide concern, even non-political ones, as requested by supervisor.
• Suggests story ideas and helps focus story angles for colleagues working on related subjects.
• Collaborates with other KPR / KNS reporters and talk show producers on projects.
• Collaborates with KPR / KNS partners at KCUR, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio.
• Identifies, pitches, writes, reports, edits and voices radio spots, two-ways, and feature stories for morning and afternoon news magazines, local talk shows, and national programs as appropriate.
• Writes digital stories worthy of publication in metropolitan newspapers.

20% Other duties as assigned

• Helps News Director develop long-range plans and set goals and objectives.
• Fills-in, as needed, as substitute host for Morning Edition and/or All Things Considered.
• Participates in on-air station fundraising.
• Anticipates and responds to breaking news.
• Participates in all assigned fund-raising and outreach activities, on and off the air.
  

Position Requirements

1. This position requires working on-site.
2. Availability to cover Kansas legislative session (typically January through May).
3. Availability to work occasional weekends and holidays.

Required Qualifications

1. High School Diploma/GED plus three (3) years of full-time professional experience in broadcast, newspaper or digital reporting OR Bachelor's degree plus two (2) years full-time professional experience in broadcast, newspaper or digital reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Five (5) years of experience producing news content for broadcast and digital platforms.
2. Professional reporting experience covering political and governmental issues.
3. Bachelor's degree or higher in journalism, communications, or related field.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills (as evidenced by application materials - including audio aircheck) and good news judgement.
5. Experience operating digital audio editing systems, field recording units, and other audio production equipment.
6. Knowledge of public broadcasting, especially long-form reporting.

Additional Candidate InstructionsA complete application includes:

1. Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
2. Resume.
3. Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).
4. Completion of the online application.
5. Aircheck in mp3 format sent to J. Schafer, jschafer@ku.edu

Incomplete applications will not be accepted nor considered.

• Application review begins Monday, October 3, 2022 and continues until a pool of qualified applicants is identified.

Contact Information to ApplicantsJ. Schafer
jschafer@ku.edu Advertised Salary Range$40,000 - $50,000 with final determination commensurate with experience Work ScheduleMonday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm. May be required to work occasional weekends and holidays. Application Review Begins03-Oct-2022 Anticipated Start Date14-Nov-2022

This job has expired.