Food & Agriculture Reporter/Producer

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 expanding news coverage on two of Oregon’s most important industries – production of food and its distribution. We’re hiring a Food and Agriculture Reporter/Producer who is curious about where the food we consume comes from, inspired to know more about the lives of the people who produce it and determined to help our audiences understand the impact climate change is making on this critical industry. A strong candidate will have covered agriculture or food economy in the past or must be very familiar with the Pacific Northwest region and experienced in enterprise reporting. This position will travel across Oregon and Southwest Washington to build sources and tell stories of food production and distribution that help our audiences understand this critical and fast-changing field and how it both impacts and is impacted by other urgent topics, including climate change, immigration policy and trade. 

This position will also work closely with reporters whose beats overlap; some of these include reporters covering Oregon businesses, the environment and rural communities Oregon. The Food and Agriculture reporter/producer will be joining a smaller team that we are intentionally waiting to build now.  This position will be part of a robust and growing news department. In this hybrid role, there is ample opportunity to engage with each other during the 2 days a week that content staff are in the office.  

Through your work and with the support of an editor you’ll be able to cover a food and agriculture in a way which can invite new audiences and continue our mission to give voice to the community, connect Oregon and its neighbors, and illuminate a wider world.

Position Details

This 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 food production and the agricultural industry in Oregon and Southwest Washington. This position will be part of the OPB news department’s climate and environment team, and their storytelling will focus on food and agriculture through the lens of climate change. 

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. 

Minimum Qualifications

• 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 the food economy through the lens of climate change.   
• 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 food and agriculture or climate change and the environment.
• Bilingual in English and another language.
• An eye for diverse voices and sources in stories.
• Photography or video production skills.

Additional Information

• This position reports to the Climate and Environment Editor and is benefits eligible
• OPB has set a hiring range of $63,000-$73,000 for a candidate that meets the above described qualifications and years of experience. However, OPB wants to review applications from a variety of diverse candidates. So, if you have fewer years of experience or more please allow us to review your materials. If you reach the offer stage, we may write an offer commensurate with your experience. 
• 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 August 28, 2023

OPB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.