This Is Nashville seeking host for daily show

WPLN News, Nashville Public Radio, is looking for a versatile, creative, charismatic, and empathetic host for This Is Nashville — our live, daily show. This Is Nashville serves the region with insightful reporting and conversations on news and culture. You’ll talk to a wide range of guests asking questions on behalf of our listening audience. Guests often include experts, public officials, creatives of all types, local reporters, and people who make things happen here.

At three years old, this show has been a welcome addition for our existing core audience, and we want to continue expanding to new ears — attracting people who want to be engaged with their community but don’t already listen to NPR. As host, you’ll create a forum that’s relatable and smart, whether you’re showcasing the reporting from our newsroom, asking questions of decision makers, or hearing from people who live with those decisions.

We’re looking for a host:

• who knows this city. You’re someone who has a lived understanding of this region’s evolution and can use your experience and connections to have rooted conversations.
• who already has experience engaging with and asking deep questions of a broad range of people. You aren’t afraid to hold public officials accountable. You love talking to people across the socioeconomic and demographic spectrum. You have the focus needed to advance breaking stories in a live format. You are curious about a wide range of topics.
• with a personality. We want you to bring your individuality to the role — on and off the air. You’re a performer as well as a journalist. You have emotional range and aren’t afraid to use it live.
• who has a strong vision for diversifying the sound and audience of public radio. You will be a leader within the station helping to set the editorial tone of the show, as well as with the public — as a face and voice of the station. We want you to be at the forefront of shaping public radio.
• who enjoys working within a team. You will be the primary voice of the show, but you also crave collaboration, deliberation and the contribution of others station-and-regionwide.

Job Overview:

This position is generally 40 hours, 8:30am-5pm, M-F, with nights and weekends as needed. Primary duties and responsibilities are preparing for and hosting the one-hour daily show each weekday at noon. This includes weekly team meetings, research, script writing, editing and fact-checking, promo recording, guest interaction, and nurturing team relationships under pressure. You’ll be joining a newsroom that has produced groundbreaking podcasts, special projects and in-depth investigations. You’ll also have access to the talent and creativity of our music station WNXP, and you can expand on the newsroom’s community engagement partnerships..

Other responsibilities include:

• Interdepartmental Collaboration
  • Newsroom meetings and planning
  • Donor relations
• Occasional show production, field reporting and audio features
• Community engagement
  • Source development
  • one on ones
  • Event appearances
  • Public speaking
• Other duties as assigned

Core Values of WPLN’s Daily Show

• Curiosity & creativity: We show genuine interest in a wide range of topics and tell stories in a wide variety of ways.
• Inclusivity: We showcase the diversity of Middle Tennessee and the wisdom of lived experience.
• Respect & generosity: We seek first to understand what people believe and why they do what they do — creating a space where guests and listeners feel valued. Conversations are spirited and respectful.
• Independent courage & grit: We sometimes ask tough questions and don’t shy away from difficult conversations.
• Context: We connect the dots — showing people how we got here and why it matters.
• Community engagement & empowerment: We foster meaningful relationships across the region and strive to help residents ask questions and solve problems.
• Top-notch radio journalism: We prioritize accuracy and transparency in our reporting, as well as attention to detail in our sound design and engineering.
• Collaboration & growth: We care about each other and create a foundation to experiment and learn from mistakes.
• Joy & hope: We want to broadcast something every day that makes people feel connected to their region and neighbors.

Physical Demands

The employee in this position is frequently standing, walking, or sitting; using hands to finger, handle, or feel; reaching with hands and arms, and talking or hearing.

Lifts Weight or Exerts Force Work Environment

The employee in this position may regularly lift up to 20 pounds.

Vision

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

About Nashville Public Radio

Nashville Public Radio serves Middle Tennessee by providing trusted in-depth news, engaging music, and unique cultural programs on 90.3 FM WPLN News, WNXP, Nashville Classical Radio, and our various digital platforms. For more than 60 years, listeners have turned to this community supported service for programming that inspires conversation and curiosity, educates, and entertains. Our values are:

• To operate the station at the highest level of professional standards and integrity.
• To be responsive to our listeners, members, supporters, and public.
• To exhibit mutual respect for our peers and audience.
• To value the member and community support that our station receives.
• To work together in an environment that encourages participation and sharing of the decisions that affect the station and our listeners.

Nashville Public Radio is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our hiring. Nashville Public Radio is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation.

Nashville Public Radio offers a generous benefit package including medical, vision, dental, and a robust Employee Assistance Program inclusive of six free sessions of counseling each year and basic legal assistance. Long-term disability and life insurance are provided at no cost to employees. We also have up to 40 days of paid parental or medical leave, inclusive for adoptive and/or foster parents.

In addition to these benefits, employees receive vacation and sick leave, access to a 401(k) plan with employer matching, and 13 paid holidays, 2 of which are floating to employee preference.

The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, and/or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.