Michigan Radio, the state’s largest and most listened-to NPR news station, is looking for a new host for its flagship daily news magazine Stateside. This is a rare opportunity to be the voice of a program that has become destination listening for Michiganders across the state.
The Stateside host will step into the role surrounded by a team of veteran producers who know their state, have extensive contacts and sources, and a keen understanding of the issues that concern the people who live here.
Plus, we know how to have a little fun on the air, too.
We know we’re biased, but we think Michigan is one of the best places to be a journalist.
What happens here is often a bellwether for the nation: from education challenges to clean drinking water; municipal bankruptcy to the uneven rebuilding of a great American city; manufacturing and international trade; the auto industry; legacy industrial pollution and the stewardship of the Great Lakes; and a major swing state in presidential elections.
Michigan is home to world class universities, the second most diverse agriculture industry in the country, incredible natural beauty, and many diverse communities of color, including one of the largest Arab American communities in the country.
There is so much here to sink your teeth into.
Stateside has built a formidable reputation as a place where difficult issues get tackled head on, hard questions get asked, and diverse viewpoints are a given. The right candidate will be just as comfortable demanding a response from a public official as they are in talking with someone about their personal struggles with mental illness or bantering about sports and theater with our regular commentators.
We’re looking for someone who is insatiably curious, an unrelenting newshound, and loves the rush of working with a passionate team to put together a live, hour-long news-driven show each day.
So, what’s a day like as host of Stateside? You’ll:
- Conduct 4-6 interviews a day (some taped, some live)
- Work with executive producer, producers, and production assistants to craft compelling leads, thought-provoking interview questions, engaging promos and billboards
- Pitch story ideas, potential guests, and conversation topics
- Participate in community engagement activities such as live remotes, membership events, and fundraising drives
- Keep up with and dive deep into the latest policy debates, political conflicts, and state news from Michigan’s many news-making regions (think Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, the state Capitol, Ann Arbor)
Qualities we think you’d agree are important:
- Curiosity! Curiosity! Curiosity!
- Always up to speed on the latest news from around the state
- Can put together a great interview with limited prep time and under extreme deadline pressure
- Loves to ask “but, why”?!
- Has a passionate desire to understand the core policy debates and political conflicts of our time
- Is comfortable working with a team and being led by an executive producer
- Can adjust on the fly during interviews
- Doesn’t have a list of certain duties or tasks that are beneath them
- Has excellent on-air presentation and strong editorial judgement
- Is more interested in other people’s opinions and viewpoints than pushing their own
- Writes clearly and is easily able to use language to grab listeners’ attention
- Is unwilling to settle for talking points, clichés, and platitudes
- Believes in the power of public media and the intimacy of radio
Required qualifications:
- At least 5 years of journalism experience
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience
Preferred qualifications:
- Knowledge of AP and NPR style
- Knowledge of public radio values and ethics
- Knowledge of Michigan and regional issues and current events
- Knowledge of audio editing and news tools - including Audition, ENCO and Newsboss
About Michigan Radio:
Michigan Radio is the public radio station licensed to the University of Michigan. Our mission is to produce and distribute trusted content that informs, educates, entertains, and engages people who care about the state of Michigan and the world around them. More than half a million listeners from more than 30 Michigan counties access the station’s on-air content every week via three broadcast stations: WUOM 91.7 FM Ann Arbor and Detroit, WFUM 91.1 FM Flint, and WVGR 104.1 FM Grand Rapids. Michigan Radio also provides content and engagement opportunities via an in-depth news website (www.michiganradio.org), social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), and in community spaces. In 2019, Michigan Radio was named Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Outstanding News Operation by the Michigan Associated Press. Michigan Radio also earned more than 40 additional awards, including a prestigious Peabody Award, from 14 state, regional, and national journalism organizations.
EEO Statement:
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.
How to Apply:
Apply online at http://careers.umich.edu Enter Job Number: 177007 in the Key Word and click Search. Follow application instructions. Resumes without cover letters will not be accepted. Please, no phone calls, emails, or faxes.
Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio
