VIDEO

SoundPath Presents

Demystifying Public Radio: Understanding the Jobs and How to Get Them

Public media offers a wide range of career opportunities to work on-air, behind the scenes, to run teams and develop original content. Panelists will break down the landscape, discuss various pathways and provide tips for freelancers looking to transition from other corners of the industry.
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Key Takeaways

  • An understanding of the landscape of job roles that exist at the local and national levels and how work settings might differ.
  • How to articulate transferable skills when interviewing for jobs in public radio. 
  • What PMJA does and the support it offers as well as other resources for public media.

Who is this panel for? 

Reporters, producers and editors who are curious about what types of jobs exist in public media, what differences exist and how to articulate transferable skills when applying for jobs. 
Meet the moderator

Priska Neely

Priska Neely is an award-winning journalist, mentor and writer based in Birmingham, Alabama. She is currently the managing editor of the Gulf States Newsroom and leads a team of reporters and editors filling gaps in news coverage across Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. She was named the 2022 Editor of the Year by the Public Media Journalists Association. Previously she worked at Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, LAist (KPCC) in Los Angeles, a producer at NPR in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. She spends her free time hiking, playing music and talking to her houseplants.
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Meet the PANELIST

Mayowa Aina

Mayowa Aina is the Special Projects Reporter at KNKX Public Radio based in her hometown of Tacoma, Wa. She is a National Murrow Award winner, Livingston Award finalist, and was selected as part of the inaugural class of Rising Stars in Public Media by Current in 2023. Mayowa started her public radio career at KUOW in Seattle. She has also worked at NPR in Washington, D.C., producing and reporting stories across the network including for Code Switch and Weekend Edition. She is a regular contributor to NPR's Life Kit. Mayowa spent two years at Alaska Public Media, covering education and producing a nightly news magazine before joining KNKX. Mayowa enjoys live music, taking road trips, and watching fridge organization videos on TikTok.
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Meet the PANELIST

Johanna Zorn

Johanna Zorn is a public radio news and podcast editor. She is part of the Public Media Journalism Association’s Editor Corps working in public radio newsrooms across the country, including extended stints in Albuquerque, Richmond and Aspen. She was interim editor for WBEZ’s “Curious City” podcast, and she has edited podcast series for Slate, KUNC (public radio for northern Colorado) and Interfaith America among other projects. Zorn is also the co-founder and executive director emeritus of the Third Coast International Audio Festival.
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Meet the PANELIST

Adrian Ma

Adrian Ma is a host and reporter for NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money, a daily podcast that helps listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. Before joining NPR in 2021, Adrian reported for public radio stations in Boston, Cleveland, and New York City. He's currently based in Washington D.C., though his reporting has occasionally taken him to places as far as Japan and China. Adrian became interested in journalism while studying media law at the University of Maryland School of Law. Later, while working for a federal judge in Baltimore, he decided to roll the dice and change careers. In 2016, he obtained a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. 
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About this panel

  • Thursday, April 18th, 2024.
  • 11am - 12pm PT / 2-3pm ET
  • 75 min 
  • Free 
  • This panel will be recorded and made available within a week of the presentation. 
While the media landscape undergoes dramatic changes, public media newsrooms offer stable and diverse career paths, both on-air and behind the scenes. From leading teams to crafting original content, these dynamic workplaces have roles for journalists at all stages of their careers.

AIR in partnership with the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA), will help demystify public media newsrooms and answer your questions. Unlock unique opportunities and join a passionate community dedicated to informative and impactful journalism.

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