Science Correspondent (10-Month Assignment)

Position Overview

NPR is a mission-driven multimedia organization producing award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations nationwide. Our audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility, qualities we also seek in our employees. NPR is an innovator and leader across various fields, including journalism, digital media, IT, and development, impacting millions of lives daily through our employees and member stations. We are committed to fostering a collaborative workplace where diverse voices are heard and inclusion is paramount to our success. Integrity, adherence to ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for all NPR employees.

The Science Desk is seeking an engaged, curious, and skeptical journalist for a 10-month reporting position. The desk excels at telling compelling stories, with journalists adept at covering breaking news and producing deeply reported feature stories. The ideal candidate will craft engaging narratives on the latest scientific research and produce larger features that provide context and depth on topics such as space flight, astrophysics, human origins, geology, archaeology, general basic science, and science policy. This role requires an ability to find joy and wonder in scientific subjects while also reporting on the serious work within the scientific community. This position may involve travel.

Successful NPR reporters develop leads for enterprise stories, report and produce special projects for broadcast, digital, and podcast audiences. They initiate and develop short-term feature stories and in-depth enterprise reports, file brief news spots and digital posts, and assist in preparing multimedia presentations. The role demands the ability to meet tight deadlines for quick-turn broadcast segments and digital stories while also managing long-term projects.

This is a 10-month, full-time assignment based in Washington D.C.

Requirements

• Demonstrate knowledge and well-developed curiosity about science news.
• Evaluate research and studies for strengths, weaknesses, and relevance to our audience, explaining them clearly and succinctly.
• Cultivate and maintain sources in a variety of scientific fields to stay ahead of developments.
• Combine storytelling, clear writing, and voicing to communicate compellingly.
• Connect with and hold the attention of our audience, enhancing engagement and loyalty.
• Contribute to NPR’s daily news coverage by working on a variety of short, medium, and long-term stories.
• Possess a teamwork mentality, flexibility, and a proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating respect for diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public media system.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes, with changing priorities and conditions.
• Actively cultivate sources from under-represented and diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Report and produce compelling stories on scientific research and topics including space flight, astrophysics, human origins, geology, archaeology, general basic science, and science policy.
• Seamlessly transition between covering breaking news and producing in-depth feature stories.
• Initiate and develop short-term feature stories and in-depth enterprise reports.
• File brief news spots and digital posts.
• Assist in preparing multimedia presentations for various platforms.
• Manage multiple projects under tight deadlines while maintaining long-term project progress.
• Explain complex scientific research and studies clearly and succinctly to a broad audience.
• Build and maintain a strong network of scientific sources.
• Enhance audience engagement and loyalty through effective storytelling and communication.
• Contribute to daily news coverage and special projects across broadcast, digital, and podcast formats.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues, demonstrating respect for diversity.
• Proactively seek out and develop relationships with sources from under-represented communities.

Note: The duties and responsibilities listed above are not exhaustive. Other duties may be assigned.

Application Instructions

Please include a cover letter with links to a minimum of 3 clips of your work in your application.

Company Information

NPR is a thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization producing award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation.

Additional Information

• This is a union-represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.
• This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.