OVERVIEW

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Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Intro To Position

The Reporter II, Personal Finance covers one of the most essential public-service beats at NPR because it has the capacity to affect all decisions in a person’s life. It encompasses housing, living with debt, retirement and investments, taxes, and how banks treat — or mistreat — customers.

The ideal candidate will jump on breaking news in the beat and also use rigor and deep reporting to put a spotlight on developments that affect people’s wallets and help our audience make informed decisions every day. The reporter will develop a deep understanding of the issues that keep people awake at night, like their ability to pay their home mortgage or rent, whether they’ll ever be able to retire, the safety of their bank accounts, and how much it costs them to pay taxes or take on payday loans. The reporter will also report on and explain how powerful institutions, from banks and insurance companies to investment firms and government agencies, have a say in our personal finances. The role also has an investigative side to it: Exposing wrongdoing at these powerful institutions.

The ideal candidate produces memorable stories for NPR readers and listeners. They research and generate fresh angles on how to cover topics that consumers need to understand. The reporter also ensures our coverage includes not just a diversity of ideas, but experiences, perspectives and voices.

A love of storytelling is essential, as is a high metabolism for news. You will be a key member of a small but mighty team so you must be willing to collaborate and take direction. This is a fast-paced job, but one that offers the resources and space to do original reporting that makes a difference.

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.

Responsibilities

Report audio stories for broadcast and written stories for npr.org
Turn around stories quickly on breaking news
Develop diverse news sources to get scoops and recognize big developments on the beat before others do
Work on enterprise stories with impact
Meticulously check facts
Provide live information and analysis on NPR shows
Perform other duties as assigned by your editor
Collaborate with other reporters across NPR’s newsroom
Travel occasionally
Fulfill administrative obligations arising from assignments, such as filing prompt and accurate expense reports.

Required Skills and Experience

Experience reporting and producing audio journalism
At least 4 years’ experience covering personal finance or an adjacent beat
Demonstrated ability to pivot from breaking news to analysis to longer-form entrepreneurial reporting projects
Ability to connect news events with impact on real people’s experiences
Ability to explain dry business topics to a wide audience so they can understand their significance
Ability to meet deadlines and to thrive in a daily, unpredictable news production environment
Proven ability and commitment to work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system
Commitment to learn and enact the best journalism practices
Ability and willingness to relocate if needed

Preferred Skills and Experience

Experience with data-driven journalism
Knowledge of public radio and the public radio system
Knowledge of AP style guidelines
Ability to do interviews in a language other than English

To be considered for this position, it is essential you submit 3 things:

Your CV/resume
A 2-page cover letter explaining why you want this job, what you bring to it and your vision for how you would cover the beat.
Links or copies of 3-5 of your most meaningful stories.

Application deadline:

While applications will be considered until the position is filled, priority will be given to those received by NPR before October 1, 2025.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Work Location & Requirements

Remote Permitted: This is a remote permitted role. This role is based out of our Washington, DC office but the employee may choose to work on a remote basis from a location that NPR approves. You will have the option of working (a) remotely from a location of your choosing within the United States that is supported by NPR; (b) on-site at an NPR facility, based on the availability of desks and approval from NPR; or (c) a combination of both. Regardless of where you choose to work from, you may be expected to travel to other locations from time to time to perform the duties of your position.

Job Type

This is a full time, exempt position.

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S. based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $110,000-$135,000 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Pay Range

$110,000—$135,000 USD

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to employeerelations@npr.org.

You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.

Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog. Get social with NPR Extra on Facebook and Instagram. Find more career opportunities at NPR.org/careers.

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Reporter II, Personal Finance