Job Description
Slate is hiring a senior producer to join the fantastic and growing team behind Slate’s daily morning news podcast, What Next, hosted by Mary Harris.
The producer we are looking for has considerable audio editing and mixing experience, sharp news judgment, proven booking skills, and strong leadership, communication, and organizational abilities. But above all, this producer must be hungry to tackle the news, whether that’s finding fresh angles and voices on the biggest headlines of the day or bringing under-covered but essential stories to Slate’s national audience. You care about fairness and accuracy, you care about sound, and you’re passionate about shaping a great, 20-minute story, and then doing it again the next day. The ideal candidate must be flexiblethe news moves fastand ambitious. You don’t take yourself too seriously, but you’re serious about the work. You are kind, collaborative and generous with your colleagues, but you can articulate concerns and solve problems as they crop up. You are a good mentor for more junior producers and an excellent partner for senior ones.
The position is full-time, on staff, with benefits, and is located in Slate’s Brooklyn office (with possible exceptions made for D.C). This is a position covered under a collective bargaining agreement between Slate and the Writers Guild of America, East. The minimum salary for this position is $90,000, but compensation can and will reflect applicants' experience.
Key Responsibilities Work at a senior level on a small team to shape each day’s show: Identify the top news stories every day, monitor stories that might become more urgent, know when to pivot Pitch and book guests who can speak with verve, break down complicated news events, and bring unique perspective Edit audio like a ninja quickly and without a trace ideally on Pro Tools. Collaborate with the host to write scripts that make the most out of every day’s interview Mix the show and prepare it for online broadcast, including writing copy for Slate’s website Be an essential part of the show’s ambitions, pushing to book bigger guests, create must-listen series, and build up Slate’s audio reporting muscles by working with Slate staff writers and What Next producers to get out in the field
Requirements At least 5 years of audio production experience in radio, podcasting, or equivalent, with a preference for daily news experience An abiding love for wallowing in tape. You will have to do a lot of audio editing. Excellent writing Excellent communication skills Great ideas and sound editorial judgment The ability to multitask and excel in a fast-paced work environment Smarts, kindness, and humorSlate is committed to excellence through diversity, which involves attracting talented people from diverse backgrounds and traditions. We encourage everyone to apply. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, please let us know. We will do what we can to meet your needs.
Slate, founded in 1996, is a daily online magazine and podcast network that helped invent the voice of the web. Our strong editorial voice and witty take on current events amp; culture have been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Magazine Award for General Excellence Online. Our podcast network, established in 2005, produces more than 20 podcasts, including Slow Burn, What Next, Decoder Ring and more.
Slate is an affiliate of Graham Holdings. Read the Graham Holdings Company California Worker Privacy Statementhere.
Job Specification