News Producer/Editor, KOMU-TV (NBC), and Assistant Professional Practice Professor, University of Missouri School of Journalism

The University of Missouri School of Journalism and the Columbia Missourian are looking for a dynamic individual with expertise, vision and energy to serve as a news producer and editor of on-air and digital journalism at KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri owned and operated commercial television station. This is a full-time, benefit-eligible, renewable, 12-month faculty appointment. The anticipated start date for the position is July 1, 2021.

This position involves guiding and overseeing daily story development, and editing the reporting of student journalists on deadline. The successful candidate must be able to lead change and collaborate with faculty, staff and students across newsrooms and platforms throughout the Missouri School of Journalism. Our news outlets serve Mid-Missouri and share content from our large statehouse operation with journalism outlets across the state. In addition to KOMU-TV, our media holdings include a community newspaper (The Columbia Missourian), a city magazine (Vox), and NPR member station (KBIA-FM) and a digital statewide business publication (Missouri Business Alert).

Since 1953, journalism students have obtained hands-on experience at KOMU-TV utilizing the Missouri Method. This learning-by-doing experience in community newsrooms continues to be the gold standard for training journalists. More than two-thirds of the nation’s television newsrooms recruit at the School of Journalism and KOMU-TV annually. In addition, many national news organizations and networks also hire our graduates.

In addition to overseeing coverage and serving as a lab instructor in reporting classes, news producers/editors teach journalism classes in the Journalism School.

The right candidate will have writing, editing and supervisory skills, teaching or training experience and an enthusiasm for working with aspiring journalists.

This faculty member will work with students. Specific newsroom assignments will be “supervising producer” — overseeing production of daily newscasts; and “Tiger Chair” — the editor who edits and approves scripts and coaches students in story development and assembly. Under University policy, the teaching load for professional practice faculty is four traditional courses a semester or the equivalent mix of traditional (classroom) and clinical (newsroom) teaching.

The news producer/editor will:

• Serve as supervising producer, overseeing production of designated daily newscasts
• Serve as “Tiger Chair,” coaching student journalists through story development and assembly, and editing and approving scripts and video
• Coordinate all aspects of ensuring quality news content and production in daily newscasts and across digital and streaming platforms
• Work with student journalists on storytelling, writing, producing, investigative process, news judgment, ethics and principles of journalism.
• Manage a staff of student reporters, plus graduate and undergraduate student workers focusing on reporting, news judgment and ethical decision-making.
• Plan and supervise necessary travel
• Teach a journalism class each semester
• Work with community members and leaders to build relationships and ensure inclusive coverage.
• Hold a faculty appointment at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
• Work with the news editors, digital editors and students at other Missouri School of Journalism news platforms to create quality converged coverage.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of experience in reporting, producing, writing and managing staff in a digital journalism environment.
• A bachelor’s degree.

The committee is also interested in candidates who bring:

• The ethical judgment and skill to teach young journalists how to make tough calls on their feet.
• A proven track record of producing quality news coverage.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• A deep, applied understanding of how to use visual and audio journalism, digital video, and social media to enhance journalistic storytelling.
• The ability to juggle a vibrant daily newsroom’s many needs with ambitious, long-term projects.
• A track record as a collegial collaborator in a newsroom without silos.

This position will require some nights and weekends, and work hours will vary depending on news coverage and production needs, which will be determined in consultation with the KOMU-TV News Director.

Apply online at https://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic with job ID 36149 by uploading (a) a letter of application that describes your interest in teaching, your teaching philosophy, and your thoughts about teaching television journalism; (b) a curriculum vitae, (c) the names and contact information for three references, and (d) a one page diversity statement that specifically addresses how you would engage with a diverse student population with regards to teaching, research, mentoring, and advising.

The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.