Rural Reporter - KUAR

University of Arkansas System•Little Rock, AR

31d

About The Position

The KUAR Rural Reporter will serve as the station’s primary journalist covering the people, issues, and challenges shaping rural communities across Arkansas. This reporter will focus on topics such as economic development, education, agriculture, health care access, infrastructure, culture, and rural governance, grounding all coverage in local voices and community needs. The Rural Reporter will produce daily news stories and long-form features for broadcast, create digital-first content for KUAR.org, and contribute multimedia stories across KUAR’s social media platforms. While coverage will center on Arkansas communities, stories may be relevant on a regional or national level depending on the topic. This reporter will represent KUAR at public events, community gatherings, and partner organization activities, speaking with listeners and stakeholders about their reporting. This position reports directly to the News Director and collaborates closely with the entire KUAR newsroom, programming team, and development staff. The role is governed by state and federal regulations and institutional policy.

Requirements

An Associate’s degree with two (2) years of experience in journalism or broadcasting
Experience as a reporter, producer, or editor
Strong understanding of digital and social media platforms
Knowledge of journalistic ethics, standards, and best practices
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Familiarity with NPR’s editorial process and expectations
Knowledge of audio recording and editing tools, including Adobe Audition
Strong organizational and time-management skills
Ability to collaborate effectively with newsroom colleagues and external partners
Strong interpersonal skills and cultural competency when reporting in diverse rural communities
A willingness to immerse in rural communities and engage meaningfully with residents

Nice To Haves

Experience reporting for audio or radio
Experience working in a news capacity at an NPR-affiliated public radio station
Experience reporting on rural communities or rural-focused issues

Responsibilities

Produce daily news stories and in-depth feature reports focused on rural Arkansas communities
Develop enterprise stories requiring extensive research, interviews, verification, and contextual analysis tailored to KUAR’s audience
Serve as an informed on-air source of context and commentary when relevant
Build relationships with rural community leaders, residents, schools, nonprofits, and local government officials
Attend community meetings, local events, and press conferences across rural regions
Produce long-form narrative or investigative audio pieces, including possible podcast content
Create digital-first stories, visuals, and social media content to increase online reach and engagement
Participate in on-air membership drives and fundraising activities
Represent KUAR at station events, community gatherings, and outreach activities
Assist with promotional and interstitial content as needed
Respond quickly to breaking news events affecting rural Arkansas, providing timely and accurate updates
Perform other duties as assigned