POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Morning Host-Reporter
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 5083
GRADE 42
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR News Director
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Morning Host-Reporter serves as on-air talent for KSMU’s weekday morning drive time programming, delivering local announcements, newscasts, funding credits, and EAS tests, as well as performing tower light and broadcast checks as required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Morning Host-Reporter performs all aspects of newsgathering and production, including reporting, writing, editing, voicing, and posting stories for broadcast and digital audiences. The Morning Host-Reporter contributes to the overall sound and news product of KSMU by providing training and feedback to student journalists and announcers.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree is required. A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Electronic Media, or a related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: At least one year of professional work experience in broadcasting is required. Professional news reporting experience is preferred. On-air announcing experience during drive time programming is preferred. Professional work experience with audio editing and broadcast automation systems is preferred.
Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. The ability to operate audio broadcast equipment and utilize audio editing software is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Performs as the local host of Morning Edition and ensures KSMU provides listeners with timely and useful news and information during morning drive time programming by presenting newscasts, weather forecasts, local segments, funding credits, and legal station identification.2. Ensures that KSMU is in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations regarding broadcast operations at all times, thus protecting the license and financial resources of the station by reviewing the daily operations log for proper transmitter operation, conducting and reviewing tower light checks, ensuring proper logging procedures and compliance with weather emergency protocols.
3. Serves as voice talent, moderator, emcee or interviewer for on-air and community-based fundraising and engagement activities as assigned.
4. Contributes to the overall sound of KSMU by providing training, evaluation, and coaching of student announcers as assigned.
5. Generates news content by pitching, researching, reporting, writing, editing, and voicing original stories on a broad range of subjects for KSMU’s broadcast and website.
6. Develops and maintains professional relationships with local officials, policymakers, business leaders, subject matter experts, and other community members to assist in research and reporting of news content.
7. Produces sound-rich audio stories for broadcast on KSMU, with proficiency in all elements of the audio production process.
8. Produces content for KSMU’s website and other digital media, with proficiency in content creation and presentation in KSMU’s website content management system.
9. Contributes to journalistic collaborations as a representative of KSMU as assigned, including local, statewide, and regional partnerships.
10. Provides production support for KSMU special programs, such as Making Democracy Work, Making a Difference, and Studio Live.
11. Contributes to KSMU’s mission to educate journalists, by providing training, coaching, editing, and other guidance of student journalists as assigned by the News Director.
12. Contributes to the public radio system by developing and maintaining a relationship with NPR’s regional bureau chief; pitching original stories for consideration on national news programs and newscasts; and responding to requests for local support of national news coverage.
13. Adheres to all KSMU policies and procedures to ensure ethical and effective public service to the community.
14. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
15. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the News Director.
16. Contributes to the overall success of Broadcast Services by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Morning Host-Reporter is supervised by the News Director and assists in the supervision of student interns and other student employees involved in news and on-air announcing as assigned.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED MARCH 2023