The Opportunity

90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR news station, is seeking an Enterprise/General Assignment Reporter to join a broadcast and digital newsroom that consistently punches above its weight and prides itself on being first.

The successful candidate will cover fast-breaking news in the Pittsburgh region, while assessing significant issues and emergent trends impacting the region. Responsibilities will balance the production of daily spot news reports for WESA radio newscasts with the development of in-depth features and explainers that help southwestern Pennsylvanians better understand the place they call home. This full-time exempt position reports to the News Director.

This reporter can meet tight deadlines and tackle a variety of stories that span a breadth of subject areas — from breaking news and quick-hit dailies to nuanced profiles of newsmakers and deep dives that illuminate issues and current events.

What you’ll need:

• A record of journalistic excellence, a commitment to excellence in audio and digital storytelling, and zeal for delving into complex issues and generating investigative and analytical enterprise reporting on key trends and impacts.
• Ability to produce clear, compelling storytelling that doesn’t just document events but helps readers and listeners understand their significance.
• Curiosity about multiple coverage areas, from higher education and environmental issues to politics and government — and why those stories matter to people in Western Pennsylvania.
• Proficiency at finding fresh angles and narratives, centering people, and gathering voices that resonate with listeners and readers — whether you’re developing a quick turnaround or an in-depth report.

Public radio or audio production experience is preferred but not essential. Also helpful but not mandatory: familiarity and experience with data analysis tools, public and research databases, court and public records, and FOIA/Right-to-Know requests.

Essential Functions:

• Research, report, write, and produce multimedia spots, feature and enterprise stories for WESA’s broadcast and digital platforms.
• Meet all regular and recurring deadlines.
• Consistently generate and pitch creative, thoughtful and original story ideas in multiple media.
• Execute assignments from newsroom editors.
• Mix and edit audio reports both in the studio and in the field.
• Take still photos and videos in the field.
• Advance the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals of the newsroom.
• Use social media to break news, engage audiences and expand your source base.
• Create trustworthy relationships with contacts and sources.
• As needed or directed, lead or collaborate with newsroom teams to produce in-depth packages that require strategic planning and direction to ensure completion of top-quality work.
• Be willing and available to work during off-hours and weekends, as needed.
• Make public appearances as opportunities arise to enhance WESA’s brand.
• Participate in on-air and online fundraising as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong on-air and digital reporting, writing and technical skills.
• Impeccable track record of accuracy and fairness in reporting and storytelling.
• Ability to gather quality field audio, to edit and mix ably for use on air or digital platforms.
• Self-motivated team player with a track record of producing daily news stories and features of interest to local audiences.
• Sound and ethical judgment, with a commitment to balance and fairness.
• Ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania is helpful.
• Demonstrated ability to shoot and edit video and photos.
• Creativity and sound judgment in social media usage.
• Excellent communication skills.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism-related field or equivalent experience/training.
• Three or more years of reporting in a professional broadcast newsroom environment with multimedia news content training and experience.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends, with some long days required at times.
• Honesty and integrity in all dealings.
• Enthusiasm for the mission of PCBC and its stations.

About Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting

Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting is a team full of passionate and fun people dedicated to our crafts as well as our communities.

 We operate two local public radio stations and a local newsroom that serves the community across radio, digital and event platforms. 90.5 WESA is Pittsburgh’s NPR News Station and WESA News is an award-winning, dynamic and ambitious newsroom serving southwestern Pennsylvania over-the-air, online and through our daily newsletter, Inbox Edition. 91.3 WYEP is one of the most highly regarded non-commercial Triple-A music stations in the country and has been a cultural institution in Pittsburgh for almost 50 years.

 Our organization plays a vital role in building connections across southwestern Pennsylvania and strengthening our communities through exceptional journalism and cultural exploration and education . . . and we have a powerful broadcast network to help!

What’s it like working at PCBC?

At Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting we work hard, do great things, and have fun doing them.  Our culture is collegial, and manager’s doors (if they even have one!) are always open.  We recognize that people do their best when they can keep a good balance between their work and personal lives and embrace flexibility as an asset.

Our compensation packages are generous.  We provide competitive base salaries in a very affordable city. The minimum compensation for this position is $50,000, commensurate with experience and ability. Our full-time exempt employees also get access to an extensive benefits package, including a generous retirement plan (with a dollar-for-dollar match of up to 6% !), medical, dental and vision, three weeks of vacation, sick time, 10 company holidays and 12 weeks of paid new parent leave. We invest in the professional growth of our team, encouraging continuing education and participation in conferences and seminars.

We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Want to know more?

We believe a strong organization includes employees from a broad range of backgrounds, with different skills, experiences, and passions. And if you don’t meet every position qualification, but you have a story to tell, we’d still like to hear it. Please apply and tell us more about yourself. Visit our careers page to get more details and to apply.

About WESA

Pittsburgh’s story. Pittsburgh’s music. Our mission is to create and distribute trusted content, build connections and strengthen our community through public media. Our vision is to foster a community that is well-informed, inclusive, and engaged. Through our two radio stations, 90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP, Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation serves the more than 2 million residents of Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities by leveraging the power of media to inform, inspire, and entertain. We engage audiences and cultivate conversations that strengthen, enrich and improve the communities we serve.

Connections working at WESA