Assistant/Associate Producer, Pop Culture Happy Hour

Overview

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Pop Culture Happy Hour is the number one TV/film podcast, according to the Podtrac ranker, and one of the most beloved arts and entertainment podcasts. Its cast of panelists get together to review the latest in television, film, and more — in a lively, engaging format — all for a growing and loyal audience. The podcast publishes four days a week.

We’re looking for a collaborative, team player, who enjoys fast paced, daily journalism and brings intellectual curiosity and rigor to pop culture. The Assistant or Associate Producer will work on all aspects of show production; supporting the hosts as well as the full production team. The Assistant or Associate Producer should be creative and versatile with passions for both audio production and pop culture. The Assistant or Associate Producer will be required to occasionally work weekends and evenings for awards shows and breaking news, and must have a willingness to be flexible about scheduling.

This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA

Responsibilities

• Edit and mix audio for podcast and occasionally radio, from raw conversation to fully produced mix, including occasional quick turnaround episodes in one work day.
• Conduct research and fact-check the podcast.
• Assist other team members with audio production.
• Assist other team members with interview prep and logistics.
• Assist in maintaining strategic and productive engagement with audiences across social/digital platforms with NPR digital content teams.
• Stay current with major arts and entertainment stories.
• Actively participate in ensuring that all materials aired meet NPR program standards and practices, including standards of fairness, objectivity, and balance.
• Assist hosts as needed in preparation for the podcast.
• Prepare scripts and other research material for hosts and showrunner as required.
• Assist with social media as necessary.
• Be an active participant in pitch meetings, consistently engaged with news of the day.
• Gather tape, assist with studio booking, screening booking, production and mixing.
• Assist with web production of stories as necessary.
• Pre-interview and book guests.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes and changing priorities/conditions.
• Must live within commuting distance of a city that holds press screenings of films: NYC, DC, SF, LA, etc.
• Experience with journalism-related research and demonstrated ability to collect, organize and disseminate information.
• Ability to work independently but also work well as part of a team.
• At least two-to-four years of audio production experience on broadcast digital audio workstations (i.e. MTE/DAVID, Dalet, ProTools or similar).
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Some experience working with daily production deadlines desired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of and interest in arts and entertainment news, and an affinity for pop culture, television and film.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience.

WORK LOCATION

Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role include duties that are better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be onsite at one of NPR’s Washington, DC / Culver City / New York City / Chicago offices at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in an NPR supported location based on the number of onsite days they choose.

JOB TYPE

This is a full time, non exempt position.

Compensation

The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $75,000-$85,000.00 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Pay Range

$75,000—$85,000 USD

NPR mandates that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law and any other applicable law.

Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog. Get social with NPR Extra on Facebook and Instagram. Find more career opportunities at NPR.org/careers.

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.