Defense Department Reporter

Hubbard DC, which includes WTOP, Federal News Network and 2060 Digital, is committed to reporting relevant news for our region. Through continuously evolving brands, we connect consumers with advertisers across a growing number of distribution platforms including radio, podcasts, social media, and websites. We do this with a commitment to our community...while growing our people and profits.

OUR VISION

To be an industry leader and set the standard for equality and inclusivity for all races, genders, ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations and religions by creating and fostering principles that integrate our core values.

OUR MISSION

To be proactive in providing a welcoming, professional environment; free of harassment, discrimination and marginalization with on-going habits that incorporate our unique experiences into the overall success and continuous evolution of this organization.

Qualifications

Minimum four years professional and/or academic experience in newsgathering, writing and/or editing
Familiarity with workforce/labor topics, civilian public sector personnel topics and/or military personnel topics as well as ancillary topics including changes in politically-appointed and career leadership, activities of public employee unions and federal agency investments and programs that impinge on operations and employees.
Experience in broadcast journalism preferred, but not mandatory. Will train the right candidate.
Four (4) year degree in Journalism, Communications (or equivalent) preferred.
Knowledge of, and ability to use, effective social media tools.
Ability to conduct online research, word processing, and digital editing.
Ability to handle stress effectively.
Ability to project an appropriate professional appearance and demeanor.
Ability to work in compliance with company policies and procedures.
Ability to function in a team environment.
Valid driver's license and clean driving record as determined by the Company. Driving record will be checked.
Ability to work established schedule and other hours as needed.
Physical Requirements
Ability to communicate in English both verbally and in writing.
Manual dexterity and fine motor skills to manipulate computer keys and general office equipment (telephone, copier, calculator, etc.) for extended periods of time.
Ability to hear and speak clearly and follow both oral and written direction.
The company may make reasonable accommodations to facilitate the ability to perform essential job functions.

Job Overview

An experienced journalist who can contribute daily to our broadcast and online platforms. This position specializes in covering the Department of Defense in the specific areas that matter to our audience of federal government employees and contractors. The successful candidate will conceive and develop editorial content that continues to make Federal News Network the leading provider of timely and relevant news and information about the people, policies and programs that affect the DoD and the workforce that underpins all that it does.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

Selects and researches topics; generates, develops, contacts and interviews sources; maintains notes and audio recordings; writes and edits articles, newscast items, etc.
Produces and delivers stories for publishing online and for broadcast (web articles, live on-air, podcasts, produced pieces/Q&As, features, special reports, series, etc.)
Proactively participates in the creative cycle of story and program origination with reporters, supervisors, producers and digital staff.
Operates board, computers, recording machines and other broadcast equipment as necessary.
Utilizes current and emerging digital tools for online publishing.
Other duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities:

Research relevant federal topics daily for the purpose of interviewing federal news makers and discussing current news stories.
Cultivate a wide range of sources on the topics of Defense technology, acquisition, personnel/workforce, management and the DoD budget
Maintain awareness of trends in DoD approaches to technology, workforce, management, acquisition policy, etc., that could be of interest to the broader federal community.
Read, understand, and distill what matters to our audience from information-dense documents like legislative text and government reports
Work with reporters, anchors, producers, digital writers/editors and supervisors to engage target audience in an informational, entertaining and enjoyable manner on subject matter important to how the federal community does its work.
Be comfortable moderating panels and other public engagements that represent Federal News Network in the federal community.
Research, book and interview relevant federal newsmaker guests for recorded news interviews.
Work with other reporters, anchors, producers, digital editors and supervisors to ensure news product meets highest standards of journalism, radio production, digital news writing and multimedia presentation.
Produce audio material for broadcasts/podcasts and articles for Federalnewsnetwork.com.
Contribute enterprise story ideas daily to assignment process.
Contribute ideas to and participate in special report/series planning/execution.
Assure high journalistic ethics and avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest, bias, or any ethical breach.
Maintain standards of accuracy and fairness in all news coverage.
Other duties as assigned.