Ive looked at just about a zillion job postings in the last few months, but this one just blows my mind. geteditingjobs/the-npr-ombudsman-public-editor-not-specified-washington-56700791.htm Ready? Here it is, exactly as posted: The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. NPR listeners value information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility - our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide. Role Summary NPRs Ombudsman/Public Editor is the publics representative to NPR in matters of journalism and journalism ethics. This includes all news content produced and acquired by NPR and the standards that guide NPRs journalists. The Ombudsman/Public Editor helps inform and educate the public about NPRs mission and NPRs Guiding Principles and Ethics Handbook. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor will examine matters of accuracy, fairness, completeness, honesty and impartiality in relation to NPRs journalism. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor will gather facts and explain NPRs news coverage and decision-making processes. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor position is independent from NPR News. The Ombudsman/Public Editor reports directly to the NPR President/CEO. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor serves a three-year term. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor role and duties are distinct from those of the NPR Supervising Senior Editor, Standards and Practices, who serves as the newsrooms day-to-day guide in navigating ethical issues and concerns.The primary responsibility of NPRs Ombudsman/Public Editor is to connect NPRs audience to NPR and to provide a forum for audience views. The Ombudsman/Public Editor serves as an independent reporter on behalf of the public. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor focuses on fact gathering and explanation. By explaining NPR News coverage and decision-making processes, the Ombudsman/Public Editor serves as one form of transparency and accountability for NPR News. While independent from NPR News, the Ombudsman/Public Editor practices the highest standards of journalism and professional ethics and strives for the same level of excellence that is the hallmark for all NPR employees. The Ombudsman/Public Editor regularly writes and speaks on matters of NPR news coverage and journalism ethics. He/she does not speak for NPR or NPR News. The Ombudsman/Public Editor strives for consistency in her/his written comments, aiming for several blog posts each week in addition to frequent use of social media to connect with the public. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor connects with NPRs member stations across the country through regular contact and station visits. These visits are not for staff training but for the Ombudsman/Public Editor to face the public and to hear citizen thoughts on NPR News coverage. The Ombudsman/Public Editor, in coordination with NPRs Audience and Community Relations department, regularly responds to questions, comments and complaints directed to NPR. While it is not possible to respond directly to each query, the Ombudsman/Public Editor is judicious in selecting which queries and which issues for response. The Ombudsman/Public Editor coordinates closely with NPRs Audience Services department to make sure that all questions, comments and complaints directed to NPR have some form of respectful response, even if each incoming query does not receive a detailed answer. In addressing audience complaints about journalistic errors in NPR News coverage, the Ombudsman/Public Editor will gather facts and can interview key news managers. The Ombudsman/Public Editor will then explain any errors and describing the response and any corrections determined by NPR News managers. If there are journalistic concerns of significant complexity and/or serious ethical magnitude, the NPR President/CEO in consultation with the Chief Content Officer and the Senior Vice President, News, may turn to an outside review of the case and bring in external expertise and ethical insight. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor will write a semi-annual report for the NPR President/CEO. This quarterly report will include (but not be limited to) an accounting of written blog posts and social media posts by the Ombudsman/Public Editor in the last six months; the number and descriptive nature of audience/public-initiated queries to the Ombudsman/Public Editor; and the approximate number of phone and email responses the Ombudsman/Public Editor gives to those audience/public initiated contacts. This report will also include brief summaries of the public forums the Ombudsman/Public Editor has participated in and the member station forums with local citizens. The quarterly report will also include an overview for the following six months outlining any specific work the Ombudsman/Public Editor plans to carry out his/her duties including any work anticipated that might go beyond the established parameters for the position. Key Relationships for the NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor reports directly to the NPR President/CEO and will meet at least monthly with the President/CEO to discuss the work of the Ombudsman/Public Editor and the connections with NPR audience and the public. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor will regularly communicate with the NPR Audience and Communication Manager to discuss the nature of incoming contacts from NPR audience and the public, the process for responding to these incoming contacts and matters of coordination required to respectfully and professionally serve NPR audience and the public. The Ombudsman/Public Editor and the Audience and Communication Manager will develop a protocol for when and how audience/public queries about NPR News should be directed to the Ombudsman/Public Editor including standards for timely responses. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor, while maintaining operational independence from the NPR News division, will develop and sustain professional relationships with the Chief Content Officer, the Senior Vice President of News, other key NPR News Managers and the NPR Supervising Senior Editor, Standards and Practices. The Ombudsman/Public Editor will also work with and through news leadership to connect with NPR journalists to best understand their work and to discuss with them NPRs news coverage. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor will supervise and manage any staff in the NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor Office including employees and interns. The NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor will establish and maintain productive relationships with NPR member stations. The Ombudsman/Public Editor will develop connections with organizations related to journalistic practice and ethics including the Organization of News Ombudsmen. Education: Bachelor degree or significant and noteworthy journalistic experience and expertise. Required Experience, Skills and Attributes: At least 10 years of full-time newsroom/academic experience. Journalism experience, ideally at the national level. Digital and social media proficiency and sophistication. Substantive knowledge of journalism ethics and experience leading ethics initiatives and/or reporting on journalism ethics issues. Proven track record of journalistic excellence and the highest standards of professional ethics and personal integrity. Excellent writing and public speaking skills. Diplomatic style that will earn the respect and trust of the public and the NPR staff and other NPR managers. Ability to work with a minimum of supervision and to manage any staff and/or interns. Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you. All applications must include a resume and cover letter to be considered. If you apply for this job, heres what you can expect in our interview process. If youre checking out technical or digital roles, here are some additional things you should consider about what youll experience at NPR. NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development. NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Keep up with us on Social Media on: Facebook at This Is NPR, Twitter YouTube at NPR Life - as well as #NPRlife for behind the scenes tweets from our colleagues.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 03:46:24 +0000
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