CFRC 101.9 FM Radio Queen’s University celebrated its centennial year in 2022 as the world’s longest running campus broadcaster. Launched by two engineering students and their professors in October 1922 with the broadcast of a football game, the station has evolved to produce eclectic music and spoken word programming enjoyed by 29,000 weekly listeners locally.
CFRC prides itself on reflecting the Kingston community’s diverse voices back to our listeners, and providing community members with opportunities to share their ideas, perspectives, initiatives, creativity and more. Our news team works together with community members to share campus and local news stories through interviews and news reportage and to build content that is informative and engaging. Much of our news content is focused on social problems in our community— the people impacted, and the people and groups working to alleviate those problems and we remain dedicated to prioritizing opportunities for traditionally marginalized voices to share their perspectives.
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) program was launched by the Community Radio Fund of Canada and is funded by the Government of Canada. The program focuses on diverse, local communities that may be underserved in the Canadian news landscape. The goal is to increase the production of community and civic news in those areas and to make that news more accessible across the country. The LJI program elevates original, local community news.
Job Description:
Title: CFRC Broadcast Journalist
Term: April 2023-March 2024
Salary: $45,000 - $50,000 depending on level of experience
Ideal Start Date: April 17th 2023
Expected Working Hours: 35 hours/week with flexible hours to facilitate field reporting; some evenings and weekends
LJI Broadcast Reporter Job Responsibilities
-tracking newsworthy events and story developments and following assignments and news
leads/tips across the greater Kingston region from Napanee to Gananoque, Westport to
Watertown
-conducting research, collecting and thoroughly verifying newsworthy information
-researching and contacting sources including eye-witnesses, authorities, and people of interest
-conducting and recording interviews with relevant sources on location, virtually and in studio
-attending campus and community events, City Council/Committee meetings and press
briefings and reporting on events that are of interest to local audiences.
-staying current with all local media and municipal news
-developing technical expertise in live broadcasting, recording and post-production in CFRC
studios
- Evaluating news leads/tips to develop and pitch weekly story ideas -writing and editing scripts
following standards set out in the Canadian Press Stylebook
-delivering scripted, spontaneous, live and pre-recorded reports on newsworthy events
-transcribing and summarizing events for web and social media publishing
-updating CFRC news page and social media with breaking news stories
-creating 3-5 minute daily news briefs for broadcast at 8 am and 5 PM weekdays including
weather and traffic reports
-producing and anchoring two journalistic public affairs program weekly covering issues of local
import/relevance
-working with news team members, meeting them weekly, and contributing a minimum of 2
segments weekly to The Scoop
-publishing all news reportage to podcasts
-recording story teasers and news program promotions
-attending weekly CFRC Newsdesk meetings
-attending weekly virtual meetings with LJI Representative and reporters at other stations
across Canada
-ensuring proper working order of all equipment used in on and offsite recording and
broadcasting
-Representing Radio Queen’s University in a professional manner at all times during broadcasts
and at in person events
Assets and Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will possess:
-A degree or diploma in Journalism, Communications or an Arts or research-based program from an accredited academic or technical institution OR have three to five years of proven equivalent experience in broadcast, print or digital journalism
-Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills
-Excellent presentation skills including broadcast delivery
-Excellent research, writing and interviewing skills
-Deadline driven with keen attention to details and accuracy
-Knowledge of community and regional concerns at municipal and greater community levels
-Proven ability to work with a team and work independently
-Proven ability to meet deadlines amidst competing priorities
-Understanding of and proven sensitivity to diversity, different perspectives and sensitive/complex issues
-Proven ability to research and report local news in an unbiased manner
-Desire to drive news, build an audience, and report on a range of topics (ie: City Hall news, Indigenous rights, 2SLGBTQ+ news, environmental issues, social justice news) in addition to following up on media releases, traffic, sports and weather reports
-Ability to prepare for and attend editorial meetings with CFRC staff and LJI Coordinators as required
CFRC 101.9 FM is looking for a dynamic, determined and skilled journalist who cares about local, community and civic journalism and is keen to build an audience.
Please email a PDF document containing:
- your Cover Letter describing your experience, your vision for the news that you will research and produce for our community and why you think you will be a great fit at CFRC
-your CV listing relevant experience
-a one pager with links to examples of your previously published work, dates/times of previous broadcasts, and links to journalistic demo reels where available (no time limit required)
-a maximum 250-word writing sample (previously published material is accepted)
Please gather all materials and deliver in ONE PDF document to the Executive Director, Dinah Jansen, by Friday March 17th 2023 at 11:59 PM. Late applications will not be accepted. Interviews will be scheduled the last week of March. Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place via Zoom.
CFRC 101.9 FM invites applications from all qualified individuals. CFRC is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
CFRC 101.9 FM provides support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant's accessibility needs. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact the Executive Director, Dinah Jansen, at [email protected]
This position is generously funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative.
