Morning Edition Host & Producer - Illinois Public Media

About the role

The Morning Edition Host & Producer is responsible for serving as the local on-air voice for Morning Edition, integrating national NPR programming with timely local news, weather, traffic, and station content. This position hosts and operates live morning broadcasts, writes and produces newscasts under deadline pressure, conducts and edits interviews, supports digital content efforts, and engages with communities throughout the region to strengthen local coverage and audience connection.

Responsibilities

• Host and anchor the local broadcast of Morning Edition, delivering a confident, conversational, and authentic on-air presence.
• Operate the digital audio control board and automation systems under live broadcast conditions.
• Seamlessly integrate local newscasts, weather, traffic, and promotional breaks while strictly hitting national network time posts.
• Maintain absolute composure and improvisational agility on-air during technical failures or breaking news.
• Monitor overnight developments, wire services, and local beats to stack, write, and edit fresh hourly newscasts.
• Rapidly synthesize complex information into clear, accurate, and objective copy during severe weather or public safety events.
• Conduct, record, and edit high-quality interviews (“two-ways”) with local newsmakers and regional reporters.
• Participate in daily newsroom editorial meetings, contributing story ideas and ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in our coverage.
• Repurpose morning audio assets, interviews, and features for digital platforms, such as vertical videos, podcasts, and newsletters.
• Serve as a primary on-air talent and pitch-producer during station membership and fundraising drives.
• Travel to libraries in our region to connect with the communities they cover with a focus on rural and under-covered communities outside of Champaign-Urbana.
• Host pop-up displays to talk with community members about ongoing issues, speak with people one-on-one and promote surveys.
• Conduct, record, and edit high-quality interviews (“two-ways”) with local residents or newsmakers to help build our regional presence.

Qualifications

• Any one or any combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) of progressively more responsible work experience in the production and presentation of radio or television programs, social media, and/or print or online journalism.
• Vocational training in radio and/or television production, journalism, social media, news or feature writing and/or announcing or closely related fields.
• College course work in radio/television, journalism, social media, news or feature writing or closely related fields.
• Experience in public radio.
• Two to five (2-5) years of demonstrated experience in a live broadcast environment.
• Demonstrated experience in audio editing, digital board operation, and production software utilization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public radio.
• Two to five (2-5) years of demonstrated experience in a live broadcast environment.
• Demonstrated experience in audio editing, digital board operation, and production software utilization.

Benefits

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• A Retirement Plan
• Paid time Off
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents