Salt Lake Area and State Government Reporter
Job Title: Creative Media Producers
Working Title: Salt Lake Area and State Government Reporter
Requisition Number: PRN46670B
Open Date: 11/03/2026
Standard Hours per Week: 40
Full Time or Part Time?: Full Time
Shift: Day
Work Schedule Summary: Monday thru Friday. Occasional weekend and evening work will be required for scheduled and breaking news events. The reporter should expect to work and be available during Utah’s legislative session and elections. Due to the nature of this position, the reporter will be required to live in the Salt Lake metro area. Remote candidates cannot be considered. Some travel throughout the region will be required.
Department: 00335 - KUER
Location: Campus
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Pay Rate Range: $53,000 - $58,000
Close Date: 02/03/2027
Job Summary
KUER, NPR Utah is looking for an ambitious and enterprising journalist ready to bring a fresh spin to Salt Lake area and state government reporting. This savvy newshound has a robust understanding of the inner workings of state policy and government, and is able to translate that into deeply human, engaging stories. They will seek stories off the beaten path and center the audience to answer questions, fact-check assertions and delight our community across digital and broadcast platforms. The reporter will write frequently, producing short-form, long-form, social media and audio work.
About us:
KUER serves Utahns with trustworthy news and information, expertly crafted stories, plus conversations and voices from around our state. To provide this essential public service, we’re dedicated to building an organizational culture that prioritizes collaboration. We seek a team that reflects our entire community, and we encourage contributions from people of varied experiences. We are committed to attracting and retaining a staff whose perspectives are heard and valued. This is essential to our success.
Benefits
- Health, dental, and wellness coverage
- Employer contribution to personal retirement
- Free public transportation pass (Utah Transit Authority)
- Paid leave time
- Tuition reduction for employee and family members
Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu
Responsibilities
- Prioritizes understanding what’s important to Utahns; proactively participates in the creative cycle of story origination with reporters, producers and the editorial leadership team
- Closely follows state and municipal politics to enterprise stories that help Utahns understand the systems that shape our lives
- Identifies and builds trust with sources to deliver unique and thoughtful journalism to KUER’s audiences
- Writes, edits and records stories for broadcast and digital platforms, including video, audio and social content while adhering to strict deadlines
- In concert with editorial leadership, makes timely and effective decisions for breaking news, reporting as necessary outside of regular business hours
- Contributes to the creation of KUER’s award-winning politics brand, State Street, by developing themes, identifying topics, reporting and hosting on various digital platforms and for community engagement events
- Actively participates in KUER fund drives and represents KUER at community and station events
Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
- Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
Department Specific Qualifications:
- Three to five years of previous professional journalism experience with a commitment to growth and innovation
- Demonstrated understanding of U.S. and state-level government processes (in legislatures, courts and city halls) as well as politics
- Sound news judgment and knowledge of journalistic best practices, including experience with public media and AP style
- Ability to identify stories and produce rigorous journalism from audience questions and conversations trending in the community or online
- A portfolio showing strong interviewing, writing, fact-checking and multi-platform production skills
- Ability to explain complex ideas and processes in a conversational, accessible and engaging way
- Enthusiasm for creative storytelling that centers the audience, serves their needs and includes perspectives from across Utah
- Commitment to writing for and appearing on multiple platforms such as video, social media, radio and occasionally TV broadcast
- Strong organizational skills to manage simultaneous reporting projects and deadlines while regularly delivering high-quality journalism
- Contributes to the newsroom’s team culture by working collaboratively with editors and colleagues; approaches challenges with creativity, flexibility and a solutions-oriented mindset
Preferences
- Familiarity with Utah culture and politics
- Previous professional multimedia journalism experience, including photography, video and audio
- The ability to write and speak fluently in a second language
Type: Benefited Staff
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu
https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.
