Community Outreach Organizer

About WHYY

WHYY serves the Philadelphia region with trusted journalism, eye-opening storytelling and intimate local arts programming. Our curiosity and commitment to this community is what drives our programming. It’s also what drives our hiring.

Below you’ll find an employment opportunity in the fast-paced setting of the Philadelphia region’s leading public media provider. The award-winning professional staff of WHYY sets the bar high in television, radio and online. Whether it’s preparing a program to air or a behind-the-scenes role in support, all positions are vital to continuing—and growing—our impact in our community.

WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about our Social Responsibility Program. It’s how we live.

About the Role

WHYY News seeks a self-motivated, collaborative and connective community organizer to work closely with our Community and Engagement Manager and the Vice President for News and Civic Dialogue to build and grow the News and Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E.), a collective of local grassroots mediamakers and professionals providing vital information to their neighborhoods and communities through small publications, newsletters, podcasts and bulletins. This is a key position for nurturing a two-way mutual-aid relationship between WHYY News and community members already serving their communities. This position involves working with the WHYY newsroom to orient to solutions-based journalism, to diversify sources, and to build meaningful and lasting relationships with local communities of color.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of Philadelphia’s diverse communities, an articulable passion for social justice and equity, a zeal for the value of local news and information, and a proven track record of organizing. Fluency in online event and video conferencing platforms is preferred but not required.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and recruit grassroots individuals to the News and Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E.)

• Conduct ongoing needs assessment of N.I.C.E. partners and work to address those needs through strategy, ingenuity, collaboration, and resource allocation. 

• Identify, share, develop and coordinate professional development and capacity-building opportunities for N.I.C.E. partners.

• Serve as a liaison between a community of grassroots creators and WHYY News. 

• Pitch, plan and organize events, listening sessions and conversations in various neighborhoods across the city, region and/or online.

• Must have a strong experience working in communities with diverse populations.

• Understanding of anti-racism, power dynamics and building equity among communities of color.

• Stay up to date on emerging trends in community media.

• Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders, journalists, editors and news executives.

• Willingness to be hands-on. We are a small team and at times might need to help one another coordinate logistics for events.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills and self-motivation.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

• Ability to represent WHYY News at community events, meetings, and on online forums. 

• Ability to collaborate in growing WHYY’s brand awareness in communities.

• Oversee evaluation of outreach and engagement activities.

• Ability to work nights and weekends work as needed per the scheduling of community activities.

• Other duties as assigned.

PERIODIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The ability to meet deadlines under pressure: Much of the organizing work will be impacted if materials do not get developed on time.

• Strong interpersonal skills: You will need to collaborate with a broad range of people. You are able to have difficult conversations and build relationships across differences.

• Self-Starter: This position’s success is dependent on your ability to manage your own workload. You will need to take initiative to seek out projects on your own at times and you are able to do so without direction.

• Skill in practicing flexibility: Much of the organizing work is dynamic with conditions constantly changing, creating moments where you must feel comfortable stopping one task or project to do something that might be more useful for the organization in the present moment.

• Can work unconventional hours. This position requires you to attend events or meetings that may occur on weekends or outside the “9-5” window.

• Well informed on local communities and current events. Creative about organizing virtual communications and developing ideas for how to reach populations not digitally connected.

Education: Knowledge acquired through work experience. H.S diploma preferred, but not required. 

 Experience: At least three years of experience working in community-focused work and/or organized.

Technical Skills: Some aptitude for audio and video capturing/editing is a plus, but not required.

*All WHYY employees are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Proof will be required upon hiring.