WTOP Reporter/Anchor, Freelance

2060 Digital•Friendship Heights Village, MD

About The Position

• Create on-air packages, shoot and produce videos/photos for use on WTOP’s website and social platforms, write articles for web and post to social media about the top news of the day. • Tell stories in a conversational manner that are relatable and engage with the listener • Enterprise and develop stories for daily broadcasts. Cultivate news sources. Collaborate with the assignments manager/news director to choose stories to pursue with our diverse audience in mind. • Research and gather interviews/sound for stories. Attend and cover news conferences and community events. Actively pursue news tips that come in via email, phone call or other official outlets. • Monitor local/national news outlets, social media and email to make sure WTOP is on top of the most relevant and breaking news stories of the day. Keep abreast of new developments in stories being covered by WTOP. • Must be able to present stories live from the scene of a news event or record stories for later use. • Maintain an appropriate and active social media presence • Complete assignments according to established deadlines • Attend editorial and strategic meetings, as needed • Take part in listen sessions with news directors • Complete other duties as requested ANCHOR ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES: Deliver/Read stories live on air in a conversational and engaging manner Smoothly operate the studio board: play commercials, reporter packages and station imaging elements; operate microphones Must be able to manage the clock and hit WTOP's benchmarks. Anchors must adhere to WTOP's strict clock guidelines. Write news stories in an active, conversational, clear, concise and interesting way to be read on air. Break down complicated and involved stories so they are easy to understand. Continue to update and revise scripts as needed. Deliver the news accurately without stumbles Interview live guests on the top news of the day in an unbiased manner Enterprise and develop stories and interview ideas for daily broadcasts Operate the Emergency Alert System for the DC area Must be able to effectively ad lib during breaking news events as well as during live interviews Keep abreast of new developments in stories being covered by WTOP Voice spots, as needed, by WTOP's production team Attend editorial and strategic meetings, as needed Take part in listen sessions with news directors Complete other duties as requested

Requirements

Degree in Journalism, Communications, or related field, preferred
3-5 years professional reporting/anchoring experience in the broadcast news industry (radio or television)
Comply with the moral code of the journalism profession. Maintain standards of accuracy and fairness in news coverage without bias.
Help deliver news with a sense of urgency 24/7
Be a great storyteller. Strong writing, interviewing and audio production skills required. Must be able to write quickly and on deadline.
Must be knowledgeable of local/national/international issues, newsmakers and current events
Ability to handle a variety of news reporting assignments per shift, including breaking news (reporter)
Stay up-to-date on the latest technology to conduct high-quality interviews. Must be able to file stories from the field (reporter)
Must have a valid driver's license, a good driving record and be insurable. Applicant's driving record will be checked. (reporter)
Report to work on time and work established schedule
Act in a professional manner when representing the station. Project an appropriate and professional appearance and demeanor.
Ability to work in compliance with company policies and procedures
WTOP is a collaborative work environment. Employees should expect to receive feedback from newsroom leaders and their newsroom peers
Flexibility with work schedule. Ability to work weekends and holidays, in addition to weekday shifts.

Nice To Haves

Photography and videography skills, preferred (reporter)
Knowledge of Adobe Audition, Burli, and Wide Orbit (anchor), preferred

Responsibilities

Create on-air packages, shoot and produce videos/photos for use on WTOP’s website and social platforms, write articles for web and post to social media about the top news of the day.
Tell stories in a conversational manner that are relatable and engage with the listener
Enterprise and develop stories for daily broadcasts. Cultivate news sources. Collaborate with the assignments manager/news director to choose stories to pursue with our diverse audience in mind.
Research and gather interviews/sound for stories. Attend and cover news conferences and community events. Actively pursue news tips that come in via email, phone call or other official outlets.
Monitor local/national news outlets, social media and email to make sure WTOP is on top of the most relevant and breaking news stories of the day. Keep abreast of new developments in stories being covered by WTOP.
Must be able to present stories live from the scene of a news event or record stories for later use.
Maintain an appropriate and active social media presence
Complete assignments according to established deadlines
Attend editorial and strategic meetings, as needed
Take part in listen sessions with news directors
Complete other duties as requested
Deliver/Read stories live on air in a conversational and engaging manner
Smoothly operate the studio board: play commercials, reporter packages and station imaging elements; operate microphones
Must be able to manage the clock and hit WTOP's benchmarks. Anchors must adhere to WTOP's strict clock guidelines.
Write news stories in an active, conversational, clear, concise and interesting way to be read on air. Break down complicated and involved stories so they are easy to understand. Continue to update and revise scripts as needed.
Deliver the news accurately without stumbles
Interview live guests on the top news of the day in an unbiased manner
Enterprise and develop stories and interview ideas for daily broadcasts
Operate the Emergency Alert System for the DC area
Must be able to effectively ad lib during breaking news events as well as during live interviews
Keep abreast of new developments in stories being covered by WTOP
Voice spots, as needed, by WTOP's production team