Contract Position - Audio / Video Producer, Essential Minnesota

The Minnesota Star Tribune is seeking a contractor to work as an audio/video producer with deep experience in narrative storytelling. You will work with our small, fast-moving multimedia team to help produce our flagship podcast, Essential Minnesota. This contract position is a hands-on production role for someone who has worked in news and has experience with podcasts that publish in both audio and video formats.

We are seeking someone equally comfortable working with reporters, shaping an interview script, tightening a mix for a narrative story and optimizing audio / video across platforms, including YouTube.

What You'll Do

• Research and develop story ideas for the weekly narrative show, working with reporters and editors to identify what will make for a strong audio and video narrative.


• Work with reporters to shape raw, written reporting into tight, engaging audio storytelling.


• Identify additional scene tape and other recordings.


• Create and mix a rough cut of recorded interviews that have a clear, well-paced and compelling narrative.
  
  
  
  • Collaborate with the video producer and technical editor to make sure audio and video elements of the show work together, understanding where each format's needs diverge and where they intersect.
  
  
  
  


• Partner with the senior audio producer + host on overall show structure, tone and narrative arc week to week.


• Contribute to a fast, weekly production cycle without sacrificing editorial quality.


• Bring passion, enthusiasm and creativity to a newsroom that is committed to innovation.

What You Bring

• Journalism experience producing narrative news podcasts, ideally across multiple platforms, with specific understanding of optimizing content for Apple, Spotify and YouTube audiences.


• Strong technical baseline in audio editing and mixing; working knowledge of video editing workflows and how they intersect with audio production.


• A sharp ear for narrative — the ability to identify what makes a story work and shape it accordingly in pre- and post-production.


• Line-editing skills: comfort giving and receiving script feedback quickly and constructively.


• Experience collaborating within a small production team with distinct roles (hosting, video, technical, editing).


• Comfort with a tight weekly deadline cadence and the flexibility that comes with daily/weekly news production.


• Flexibility, patience and the ability to reflect as we try new things and learn from our experiments in a start-up environment.