Morning Edition Host & Producer - Illinois Public Media

Morning Edition Host & Producer - Illinois Public Media

Job Summary

Duties & Responsibilities

Live Broadcast & Board Operation

• Host and anchor the local broadcast of Morning Edition, delivering a confident, conversational, and authentic on-air presence.
• Operate the digital audio control board and automation systems under live broadcast conditions.
• Seamlessly integrate local newscasts, weather, traffic, and promotional breaks while strictly hitting national network time posts.
• Maintain absolute composure and improvisational agility on-air during technical failures or breaking news.

News Production & Editorial Judgment

• Monitor overnight developments, wire services, and local beats to stack, write, and edit fresh hourly newscasts.
• Rapidly synthesize complex information into clear, accurate, and objective copy during severe weather or public safety events.
• Conduct, record, and edit high-quality interviews (“two-ways”) with local newsmakers and regional reporters.
• Actively participate in daily newsroom editorial meetings, contributing story ideas and ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in our coverage.

Digital & Station Support

• Repurpose morning audio assets, interviews, and features for digital platforms, such as vertical videos, podcasts, and newsletters.
• Serve as a primary on-air talent and pitch-producer during station membership and fundraising drives.

Community Engagement

• Travel to libraries in our region to connect with the communities they cover with a focus on rural and under covered communities outside of Champaign-Urbana.
• Host pop-up displays to talk with community members about ongoing issues, speak with people one-on-one and promote surveys.
• Conduct, record, and edit high-quality interviews (“two-ways”) with local residents or newsmakers to help build our regional presence.

Minimum Qualifications

Any one or any combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) of the following types of preparation:

1. progressively more responsible work experience in the production and presentation of radio or television programs, social media, and/or print or online journalism
2. vocational training in radio and/or television production, journalism, social media, news or feature writing and/or announcing or closely related fields
3. college course work in radio/television, journalism, social media, news or feature writing or closely related fields
   - 60 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
   - 75 semester hours equals one (1) year and six (6) months (18 months)
   - 90-semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
   - 120 semester hours or a Bachelor’s degree equals three (3) years (36 months)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public radio
• 2–5 years of demonstrated experience in a live broadcast environment
• Demonstrated experience in audio editing, digital board operation, and production software utilization

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional Journalism: Sound ethical judgment with a fierce commitment to accuracy, fairness, balance, and public media standards.
• Broadcast Writing: The ability to write tight, conversational copy under extreme deadline pressure.
• Adaptability: A flexible team player who enjoys working across reporting, technical, and digital production roles.
• Community Connection: A deep curiosity about regional issues, politics, culture, and geography.
• Utility Journalism: The ability to translate complex regional developments into clear, practical, locally grounded journalism that helps listeners understand how the news affects their daily lives.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 4521 - Media Writer/Producer/Announcer I position. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The budgeted salary range for this position is $50,000 to $55,000 annually. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. S