Long-Form Multimedia Journalist

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The Long Form Multimedia Journalist will pitch, develop, produce, direct, shoot, and edit original content intended for broadcast on Montana PBS and distribution on multiple Montana PBS platforms. Under the direction of the “Impact” Managing Producer and working cooperatively with the News and Public Affairs production team, this position creates content addressing current and cultural events, politics, the environment, economic, social and community issues across the state.

Position Number: 4C0621

Appointment Type: Professional

Contract Term: Fiscal Year

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: 1.0

Salary: Salary range of $58,000 to $65,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Montana PBS seeks dynamic journalists to help us tell the stories of Montana citizens and cover the most important issues within our communities. Successful candidates will have experience in television news or documentary production, with skills in video photojournalism, writing, editing, on-camera presenting, and compelling visual storytelling.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Pitch, produce, and report high quality news and public affairs programming with strict adherence to journalistic standards of integrity, balance, and fairness.
• Shoot, edit, write, and direct video content using industry standard digital tools and software.
• Exhibit the highest level of editorial independence and integrity, internal to the station, and to the public at large.
• Support and work cooperatively with the Montana PBS News and Public Affairs production team, as well as the Education, Digital Engagement and Development departments.
• Under limited supervision, manage complex broadcast and digital projects while collaborating with multiple team members.
• Transport, operate and maintain video, lighting, and sound equipment to function at its optimum capacity.
• Supervise and train student production employees/interns.
• Support general production activities of the station and other projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in broadcast television news as producer/director/reporter covering politics, news and public affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough research and interviews, assess news and make editorial judgments.
• Demonstrated on-camera presentation skills including live interviews and live shots.
• Demonstrated operational skills of television production equipment, including cameras, audio and lighting gear.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of video editing using a variety of industry standard tools and software.
• Demonstrated knowledge of broadcasting technical specifications, including video and audio standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working and collaborating with others on a variety of digital and social media platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to create visual and audio content employing editorial best practices and aesthetic innovation resulting in programs of the highest technical and creative quality.
• Demonstrated experience in effective narrative storytelling using visual and digital media.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Record of progressively responsible experience in broadcast television journalism.
• Experience working for a public television station.
• Demonstrated experience in reporting on Indigenous peoples and issues within tribal communities.
• Relevant knowledge of, and demonstrated interest in, Montana history, environmental, economic, political and social issues.
• Demonstrated excellence in videography, lighting, audio recording, editing and post-production techniques consistent with the high standards expected by public television audiences.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Ability to work effectively alone and with a team, consistently exercising initiative and good judgment under minimal supervision.
• Excellence in written, verbal and visual communications.
• Ability to take initiative and have good judgment.
• Ability to identify important news subjects and to explain the news to a broad audience in compelling ways.
• Ability to effectively operate work-related equipment; the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to represent Montana PBS and its programs to the public in a professional and courteous manner.
• Exhibit professional journalistic qualities earning the respect of peers in the industry as well as audiences.
• Relevant knowledge of the mission and objectives of Montana PBS and an understanding of the station’s role in public service and outreach on behalf of Montana State University.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

• Must possess a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles.
• Work schedules may vary greatly and are not necessarily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Production schedules may require work on evenings, nights and weekends. Remote productions may require significant travel, and work in outdoor environments.
• Preference for candidates located in or near (or willing to relocate to) Montana’s seven largest cities: Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, and Kalispell.
• While this role calls for expertise in many disciplines, Montana PBS encourages applications from those who may be skilled in one area and inexperienced in others.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.