Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.
Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
News Editor
Job Summary:
Wisconsin Public Radio’s (WPR) Afternoon Digital News Editor will join a team of skilled journalists in bringing WPR’s content across the finish line to millions of users on web and social media platforms, in Wisconsin and beyond. The Afternoon Digital News Editor will shepherd daily web content through final stages of editing, publishing and digital distribution, providing thorough copy editing, attention to AP style and a working knowledge of SEO best practices, all while upholding the highest journalistic ethical standards.
Reporting to the Senior Digital Editor and working collaboratively with peers on the digital team, the Afternoon Digital Editor will ensure final quality control on various digital products including web copy, social media videos and carousels, headlines, photo cutlines and WPR’s daily newsletter. A successful candidate is well-versed in daily news production, particularly for online audiences, and is familiar with WPR’s key content areas, including state politics, environmental and technology issues, and how Wisconsin fits into national news narratives.
This position is Ongoing/Renewable.
The full-time, hybrid position will be headquartered in Milwaukee, WI and work a 40-hour-a-week schedule covering weekday afternoons and early evenings, approximately 11 a.m.-7 p.m., a mission-critical publishing window for WPR’s news and talk teams. The position requires in-person work at the Milwaukee bureau 2-3 days a week with occasional travel to Madison for team and all-staff meetings, and occasional on-call weekend availability.
Remote work requires an approved flexible work arrangement (FWA). A FWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.
Ability to attend remote meetings via Zoom, communicate in written format on Slack and email.
It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Information about UW-Madison Driver Authorization can be found at: http://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Provides editorial guidance in a specific coverage area, which may include assigning stories, editing content, and managing staff
- Manages special projects as assigned
- Assists with management of activities related to the strategy and operations of a news department
- Applies editorial judgment and maintains industry standards of journalistic ethics and excellence
- Collaborates with content teams on both short and long-term multimedia projects
- May contribute content, including interviewing sources, writing stories, and completing other necessary production tasks to create news/public affairs reports
- Stay abreast of developments in assigned coverage areas, maintains contacts on continued stories to ensure follow-up, and researches topic areas to provide in-depth reports
Department:
Wisconsin Public Media, Wisconsin Public Radio, Online Content
This position joins WPR’s Digital Team with a charge both to help new audiences discover WPR, and to serve its millions of current users with high-quality, daily digital content on WPR.org. The Afternoon Digital News Editor will aid WPR in advancing its digital-first mission, collaboratively with partners across Wisconsin Public Media, to meet digital audiences where they are.
PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio are part of Wisconsin Public Media. The person in this position will be required to comply with the Wisconsin Public Media Code of Ethics: http://wpm.wisc.edu/policies/, in addition to the UW-Madison code of ethics.
#WPR
Compensation:
Expected salary for this position will range between the low 60s to high 60s.
Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see: http://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience with copy editing for AP Style in a public facing role in daily news, preferably public media or a related field.
- Experience with online publishing for a high traffic website using Wordpress, Grove or a similar content management system.
- Knowledge of SEO best practices and ability to articulate strategic insights across teams while working in a daily, deadline-driven environment.
- Proficiency with writing, editing and English grammar for digital publishing.
- Experience participating in a collaborative team setting and using active listening, social perception and public speaking to communicate about ideas and tasks.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Proficiency with crafting content for various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and using scheduling tools such as Sprout Social.
- Familiarity with reporting/editing in topics such as law, government, state agencies.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communication OR equivalent experience (3-5 years in a professional journalistic writing/editing role) preferred.
How to Apply:
Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. Please note, there is only one attachment field. You must upload all of your documents in the attachment field, either as one combined document, or separate documents.
The following must be received for your application to be complete:
- Resume
- A cover letter describing how your experience relates to the listed required and preferred job qualifications.
- A one to two page writing sample in PDF format. As part of your application, please submit a published journalistic writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write and edit for a public-facing platform.
Since this position is responsible for providing the final edit of daily news content, close attention to detail is required. The writing sample material will be assessed for spelling and grammar.
Failure to follow these application instructions will result in applications receiving less competitive consideration.
We are eager to learn more about how your experience may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Please keep in mind your cover letter and/or resume should address your experience and how it relates to the position qualifications. The application reviews will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to the first round interviews.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with titles, emails, and phone numbers (including at least one supervisory reference). Note that references will not be contacted without your prior knowledge.
Contact Information:
Mariah Stuckey, mariah.stuckey@wisc.edu, (608) 890-2272
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
