Fellow, Latino USA – The Futuro Media Group (NY)

NPR’s Latino USA, a national weekly radio program about Latino stories is taking applications for an 8 month-long fellowship. We are seeking recent graduates from a journalism program or journalism professionals with a passionate interest in reporting that centers the voices and stories of girls, young women, and gender-fluid individuals of color in NYC. The fellowship is funded by the New York Women’s Foundation and will focus on stories that encourage girls, young women, and gender-fluid youth of color to lead self-determined lives and create a culture and narrative shift to advance gender and racial equity in NYC.

The fellowship is open to female and/or gender-fluid individuals who are early-career reporters with no more than five years’ experience in the field. They will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, honing their journalistic and storytelling skills as well as gaining technical radio broadcasting and podcasting skills.

The fellowship will start in February 2018 and end in May 2018, and it will include a monthly stipend of $1,730 that will be paid out bi-weekly throughout the duration of the fellowship. The fellow will be based out of our Harlem offices. The Fellow will be immersed in Latino USA’s editorial and production process, particularly gaining feedback on how to research, pitch, produce and edit stories from Latino USA’s unique perspective.

The ideal candidate should play well with others and enjoy production and reporting. They should have a passion for telling Latino stories and working with voices that are rarely heard in the public media landscape. We’re a small shop, so we need someone who is a true team player unafraid of rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever it takes to complete an assignment.

About Latino USA:

On the air for nearly 25 years and distributed by NPR, Latino USA is the only national, English-language news radio program produced from a Latino perspective. Anchored by Maria Hinojosa, the mission of Latino USA is to provide weekly insights into the lived experiences of Latino communities, and to be a window to the cultural, political and social ideas that impact the country’s demographic. Each week, we present a unique mix of coverage on culture and politics, diverse on-air voices, and in-depth reporting on current and emerging issues impacting Latinos and the nation. We believe in narrative journalism—using characters, plot, and an attention to detailed storytelling alongside the highest ethical standards to connect people to stories that matter to them. We believe in rigorous fact-checking, and in providing humanity, history, context and fun. The offices of Futuro Media Group, which produces Latino USA, are located in Harlem, in New York City.

Duties and Expectations

Reporting to a Latino USA Producer with additional direction from the Production Manager as well as editing guidance from the Editorial staff, the Fellow will:

• Attend editorial meetings on days they are in the office;
• Generate ideas for coverage of stories that encourage girls, young women, and gender-fluid youth of color to lead self-determined lives and create a culture and narrative shift to advance gender and racial equity in NYC.;
• Bring well-developed pitches to our bi-weekly pitch meetings;
• Produce no fewer than three (3) stories during the duration of the Fellowship. These stories will potentially air nationally on Latino USA;
• Provide multimedia content (web copy, tweets, Facebook entries, photos, etc.) for each story;
• Encourage local community organizations to share these stories with the communities they serve.
• Work approximately 3 days a week.

For stories that they produce, the Fellow will be expected to:

• Write and edit segments as needed;
• Report, write, voice, and edit segments;
• Contribute copy to show scripts as assigned;
• Secure and organize audio materials for segments;
• Participate in group listens of their segments;
• Participate, as needed, on reporting trips (solo, with host, and/or with other producers);
• Assist in fact-checking scripts to ensure editorial integrity and quality of content;

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, Latino studies, or a related field, or comparable work experience;
• 1+ years work experience in radio journalism, or 2+ years experience in other journalism medium plus some audio production experience;
• Spanish language skills a strong plus, but not required;
• A knack for developing relationships and sources;
• Experience with ProTools or similar digital audio editing platforms;
• Demonstrated ability to follow a beat;
• Commitment to diverse coverage within and outside of the Latino community, in terms of sexual orientation, gender, and race;
• Have an ear for good tape and a knack for developing relationships and sources;
• Demonstrate ability to pitch character-based, narrative stories with scenes (like a movie for your ears);
• Excellent attention to detail is key;
• Excellent team player and thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;
• Be someone who would do anything to not miss a deadline;
• Strong time management skills;
• Ability to work independently while also fitting into a small, focused team;
• Be curious with a desire to keep learning;
• Accept productive criticism and feedback intended to help you grow;
• Must love radio/podcasts.

Additional Details

• Location: NYC
• Salary: $1,250 a month period paid bi-weekly, for 3 days a week.
• Recording equipment and audio editing software will be provided.
• Travel stipend of $116.50 a month will be provided
• Duration: 3/2018 through 6/2018

 

DEADLINE AND APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit the following:

a cover letter summarizing your background and goals, and why you would be an appropriate fit for this fellowship;

your resume stating qualifications;

three (3) work samples to your audio work (can be links);

and two (2) references.

Optional: An outline of a Project proposal and your reporting strategy, and summary of media coverage of the subject you wish to cover.

Must be submitted by Friday, January 18th, 2019 to be considered for this position, but we encourage early applications.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter via email with the subject “Latino USA NYWF Fellowship” to jobs@futuromediagroup.org. Please include where you saw this job posting.

Only the most qualified candidates will be contacted.

No phone calls, please.

Futuro Media is a diverse work environment and encourages female and/or gender-fluid individuals from all backgrounds to apply. Journalists of color and of other diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

About The Futuro Media Group

The Futuro Media Group is an independent nonprofit organization producing multimedia journalism that explores and gives a critical voice to the diversity of the American experience. Based in Harlem and founded in 2010 by award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, Futuro Media is committed to creating multimedia content for and about the new American mainstream in the service of empowering people to navigate the complexities of an increasingly diverse and connected world.