Senior Producer, FT News Briefing

The role

The Financial Times is looking for a New York or Washington DC-based senior producer to join our growing audio team in the US. This is an exciting time to join the FT as it expands its audio offering and focuses on growing listeners with a slate of premium shows.

You will work on the FT News Briefing, the FT’s popular daily news podcast covering business and the markets. The candidate will be expected to work to the show’s schedule Sunday through Thursday. It is a fast-paced daily show, which responds to breaking news events and goes deeper behind the news to bring thoughtful context to the headlines through conversations with FT reporters and editors. The News Briefing reaches millions of listeners every month and has been consistently expanding its global audience since launching in 2018.  

You will be working closely with a talented and kind team including the show editor, producer, the audio team’s executive producer, and the network of expert journalists in the global Financial Times newsroom. Our team runs on collaboration, honesty and flexibility. 

The role requires a strong news instinct and the ability to work to tight deadlines. In addition to the daily news output, you will also be an integral part of taking the FT News Briefing (FTNB) in new directions. To build on its success, the FTNB team is exploring new ways to engage with and grow its audience. You will bolster efforts to introduce new sound-rich formats, which could include interviews with high-profile guests, reporter and host-led reports, or other forms of news and narrative. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that is pushing to innovate in audio. You will form an integral part of the global team spanning the US and the UK.

This position is a 12-month fixed term contract and is open to either full-time or part-time arrangements. The working days for this role are Sunday-Thursday.

 

Our ideal candidate 

• A creative and adept audio editor 

• Strong news instinct and the ability to shift focus when news breaks

• An experienced and effective scriptwriter 

• Can work collaboratively across a newsroom

• Organised and can prioritise under deadline 

• Ability to learn a host’s style and write segments based on their voice 

• The ability to generate ideas to help promote and grow the show that go beyond classic social posts would be beneficial

• Ability to juggle fast-paced news deadlines and longer-term, in-depth reporting projects

• Experience working in journalism or newsgathering in any context 

• Experience working in an audio team within a print newsroom is a plus

 

Key responsibilities

• Working closely with the host/editor in overseeing daily scripting and output of the FT News Briefing podcast

• Cutting tape, assembling audio packages and filling in when needed to mix the show

• Coordinate with in-house lawyer on fair dealing, copyright and libel risks

• Work quickly with the host and editor to pivot the show, adjust the line-up and source new guests in the event of breaking news

• Develop relationships with reporters and editors across the global newsroom, seeking out upcoming news, scoops and compelling features for upcoming coverage on the News Briefing

• Liaise with the podcast marketing manager and social media team on promotional strategy

• Publish each episode and write show notes

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience working as an audio producer or editor

• Skilled in editing on DAWs. Extensive Pro Tools knowledge preferred

• Experience working in business journalism is a plus

 

Please submit your application by the end of the day, 11th May 2023. 

 

Salary range

A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $60,000 to $90,000. To ensure pay fairness, the successful candidate will be offered a salary within the estimated salary range based on a number of considerations including but not limited to: skill set; experience and training; certifications; and other business and organisational needs. The disclosed range estimate is for our NYC office and has not been adjusted for other locations.

Benefits

Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enh