Business Reporter

Application instructions for this and all current OPB employment opportunities are available at OPB's careers page.

About OPB

OPB is a leader in public media, serving diverse communities of the Northwest with fact-based, in-depth news and information about politics, the environment, science, arts, history, and cultures; business, education and more. Powered by the generous support of members, OPB seeks out a variety of voices in our communities and lifts up authentic stories of the people, places, events and issues of the region, providing context and a deeper understanding. OPB’s independent journalism and programs are available at opb.org, on OPB Radio and OPB TV. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. 

The Opportunity

OPB is hiring a Business Reporter to cover an audience that spans Oregon and SW Washington. The Business Reporter will join OPB’s growing newsroom, which includes reporters covering politics, education, health care, criminal justice and the environment, as well as regionally-focused bureaus in Bend, Vancouver and Pendleton.  This position will work closely with a news editor, and will collaborate with digital producers, program hosts and other reporters in helping the OPB audience understand important news events on the business beat. 

We’re looking for someone who has a knack for taking complicated business issues and explaining them in ways that listeners and readers can understand. The Business Reporter will take the initiative to build expertise on the beat, to find and maintain sources, to track important trends and to keep the OPB audience up to date on multiple platforms. The Business Reporter will help define coverage priorities, so that stories on the business beat will appropriately balance breadth, depth, timeliness and context.

This position will balance daily news (routinely filing quick-turn stories as needed) with longer-form enterprise and investigative reporting.  The Business Reporter will have an integral role keeping OPB’s audience informed on key business news happening in our region, not just by reporting stories but by advising editors, digital producers, program hosts and other reporters of key developments that may be beyond the reporter’s immediate reach. If this sounds like the job for you, we encourage you to apply!

Position Details

This Business Reporter/Producer produces high quality enterprise and breaking news stories for OPB that appear on multiple platforms and consistently meet daily deadlines, as well as ethical, technical, legal and aesthetic standards. This involves daily research, writing, online filing, photography, voicing and production. The bulk of this reporter/producer’s newsgathering efforts will focus on business, workplace issues and the economy in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Responsibilities

80% - The reporter/producer reports, writes and produces breaking and enterprise news stories on multiple platforms, including audio and digital, focused on business and the economy. Those other duties include scheduling and conducting interviews and planning future news coverage related to the beat, recording and editing material using digital audio tools, using social media for information gathering and engagement and taking photos.

10% - Participate in local news programming by appearing as a guest on shows like Think Out Loud or being debriefed by an on-air host. Support efforts to include other local voices in OPB’s on-air programming.

5% - Produces reports for national news programs and newscasts, as assigned and with approval of supervising editor.

5% - Other duties as assigned, including participating in fundraising and outreach functions.

Working Conditions

The reporter will divide time between an office/studio and field work as needed for newsgathering, which may include travel to remote locations, working evenings or weekends, and possibly working in inclement weather. Lifting and carrying equipment up to 20 pounds is sometimes required. In-state travel is common, but trips are often short.

During COVID-19, the OPB newsroom operates remotely three days per week with reporters and editors working at OPB two days per week. The business reporter/producer is expected to work from OPB twice a week, except when reporting in the field

Additional Information

• This position reports to the Editor who oversees business and education reporting.
• This position is benefits eligible
• The hiring range for this nonexempt position is between $28.84 and $35.24 hourly, or the hourly equivalent of $60,000 and $73,300 annually, depending on qualifications.
• For the safety of our employees, the contractors/vendors we work with, and the public we serve, OPB has a mandatory COVID vaccination policy, and all employees are required to show proof of vaccination.

How to Apply

For application instructions, please visit OPB's careers page. You will be asked to create an account, upload your cover letter and resume and answer a few position related questions. Once you click “submit” you cannot make changes to your application.

Your application materials are due by 8:59 PM Pacific Time on April 28, 2023.

OPB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Journalism or related field or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.
3 years of journalism experience
Experience developing and maintaining a beat.
Enterprise reporting experience.
Ability to develop and maintain sources.
Strong writing and interviewing skills.
Familiarity with photography, audio, video and social media in the presentation of news stories.
Passion for covering economic issues.
Commitment to high ethical standards in reporting.
Ability to file live reports and participate in breaking news.
Enthusiasm for the mission of OPB.
Enthusiasm for the changing news production environment and the tools and software used to facilitate our work.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Experience using digital audio recording and editing equipment.
Experience covering businesses and economic issues.
Bilingual in English and another language.
An eye for diverse voices and sources in stories.
Photography or video production skills.