Senior Photojournalist

Company: American Public Media
Location: Saint Paul
Posted on: May 3, 2021

Job Description:

Who We Are:

The mission of American Public Media Group (APMG) is to enrich the mind and nourish the spirit, thereby enhancing the lives and expanding the perspectives of our audiences and assisting them in strengthening their communities. We aspire to be the leader in creating trusted and meaningful listening experiences with and for curious people, and we seek to create a diverse, inclusive culture focused on growth and outcomes to serve our audiences.

APMG's primary operating divisions Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio and American Public Media offer multi-regional FM broadcast channels, website, mobile and social media channels, live events, national content creation and distribution. Together, these divisions operate 49 public radio stations and 42 translators serving regional audiences in eight states from Minnesota, Michigan and the Upper Midwest to Idaho and California; distribute a portfolio of more than twenty national programs reaching nearly 20MM listeners weekly through 1,000 radio stations; serve rapidly growing audiences on digital, social and mobile platforms; and produce an increasing and diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, mental health, water, early brain development, business and investigative journalism.

Your Role:

As the Senior Visual Journalist, you will be responsible for the daily presentation, project work and long-term planning of the MPR News visual journalism. Your role oversees the work of the visual staff and is an innovative newsroom leader shaping the future of MPR News and growing the organization's relevance with content and on platforms that reflect and reach the diverse people of Minnesota. As a member of our digital team, you will collaborate with teams and individuals across the organization with an eye towards impact. You will work closely with editorial production staff to ensure that MPR News is creating engaging public service journalism while upholding high journalistic standards across multiple platforms.

Minnesota is approaching 20 percent Black, Indigenous and People of Color and the Twin Cities metro area is approaching 30 percent BIPOC and we need conversations and reporting that reflect our population. We want our visual journalism to reflect Minnesota and we want a leader for our visual team who understands the need to practice more equitable journalism.

This full-time position works 40 hours per week and is eligible for benefits.

Compensation Range: $61,700 - $96,300 annually. Exact salary determined by experience and education related to the role, organizational compensation structure and internal equity.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Position Responsibility:

* Oversee daily and project-centered visual story telling.
* Create, edit and produce photography and videography.
* Direct MPR News visual journalists
* Lead by:

o Advance a culture of inclusive, constructive performance coaching and regular, on-going feedback.

o Encouraging creativity, invention and productivity.

o Advance diversity and inclusion initiatives in staff and freelancer pool.

o Creating and encouraging individualized development opportunities and plans for staff.
* Work with editors/reporters/show teams to assign shoots
* Oversee editing/production process
* Work with digital team in presenting visuals and multimedia
* Direct statewide contract photo photographer and visual journalist network
* Create/oversee radio show's in-studio visual presentation
* Develop/train non-visual staff in competent visual reporting
* Maintain equipment and technology
* Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

* Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
* At least five or more years' experience in daily visual journalism that includes stills and video
* Experience leading a team with a demonstrated ability to foster high standards and an ability to coach, inspire and lead
* Experience/accomplishment in multimedia reporting
* Experience/accomplishment working with a digital-first team
* Experience/accomplishment in managing long-term news projects
* Experience/accomplishment in growing audience

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

* Proven editorial judgment with a commitment to accuracy and fairness
* A commitment to ethical journalism
* Ability to see and develop distinct news enterprise stories
* Ability to deliver visual stories of the highest standard
* Mastery of multimedia features, including text, audio, video and still images
* Mastery of standard visual technology, gear and production tools
* Strong skills shooting, editing video
* Able to work well and productively in an environment where news is constantly changing and being updated
* Ability to prioritize work and make resource decisions accordingly
* Familiarity with and appreciation of public media and public service journalism
* Working knowledge of media law and its application to a news service on the Internet
* Ability to work across a range of skills and in a flexible manner, carrying out responsibilities in accordance with MPR's mission, values and professional standards
* Supervisory skills and ability to recruit, coach and develop talent
* Leadership and personnel skills and ability to inspire, motivate, train and grow employees.
* Encourage creativity and high editorial standards
* Collaborates well with outside organizations

Preferred Skills and Experience:

* Proficient in Spanish, Somali, Hmong or other language other than English that is commonly spoken in Minnesota

Reporting To This Position: One visual staff member and a cohort of freelancers

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

* Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
* Ability to manage some work outside of standard office hours as needed.
* Physical Demands:
* Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time
* Required to move about in the community
* Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping
* Working Conditions:
* Moderate noise level

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply.

Keywords: American Public Media, St. Paul , Senior Photojournalist, Other , Saint Paul, Minnesota