Host, New Daily Show
KNKX | Full-time onsite in Tacoma, WA
Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000 annually, depending on experience
Now, KNKX is launching something new: a daily, one-hour news, interview, and storytelling program airing Monday through Friday at 3 PM. The show will cover the news of the day while making space for arts, culture, and the stories that surprise and connect us as a region.
We are hiring two Hosts for this show. This is a rare chance to be a founding voice of a new program at a station that is investing and growing. In a media landscape where newsrooms are contracting, KNKX is creating something, and the right people get to shape what it becomes.
This position is based in KNKX's Tacoma, WA studios 5 days a week. This is a SAG-AFTRA union position.
The Role
As Host, you will be one of two on-air voices leading this new program. Reporting to the Executive Producer, and working in partnership with your co-host, and a production team, you will help shape the daily editorial direction, conduct interviews, and deliver a show that is warm, sharp, curious, and grounded in the community.
This is not a role where you show up and read what is handed to you. You are part of the producing force. You bring ideas, you pitch stories, you help decide who gets interviewed and what gets covered. You are also the backstop: the last person to touch something before it goes over the air. That means composure under pressure, the ability to pivot when news breaks, and the instinct to follow a conversation wherever it leads.
Key Responsibilities
On-Air Hosting
- Host a daily, one-hour live news and culture program, managing show flow, timing, and transitions under live-broadcast pressure.
- Lead 2-4 daily segments ranging from 10- to 20-minute interviews with newsmakers, community leaders, artists, and experts.
- Pivot when news breaks. Be willing and able to rework the rundown on the fly during a live broadcast.
- Interact with listeners through call-in segments and participate in live community events.
Segment Production and Editorial Sourcing
- Write and edit scripts, intros, commentary, and promotional copy to public radio standards.
- Source interview subjects and segment topics and pitch ideas in daily team meetings.
- Collaborate with the Digital Editor to adapt on-air content for digital, podcast, and social media formats.
Community Engagement and Ambassadorship
- Represent KNKX at public panels, live town halls, station events, fund drives, and community gatherings across Western Washington.
- Engage authentically with listeners across digital, audio, and social channels to build trust and expand audience reach.
- Take the show on the road through live remotes and community events.
What We're Looking For
Must-Haves
- Experience: 7+ years of live broadcast experience in radio, television, or a comparable live format. We need someone with time in the saddle who has handled breaking news, quick pivots, and the pressure of live programming.
- Interviewing Instincts: A skilled, curious interviewer who comes prepared but knows when to put the questions down and follow the conversation where it leads. You seek the "why" behind every story.
- Collaboration: A team player who brings ideas, collaborates with producers, and contributes to the editorial direction of the show. This is not a role for someone who only cracks open the mic.
- On-Air Presence: Someone warm, genuine, and authoritative. You connect with people across political, ideological, and geographic lines through empathy.
- Writing: Sharp, concise broadcast writing for intros, commentary, scripts, and promotional copy.
- Technical Proficiency: Working familiarity with digital audio workstations (e.g., Audition, Pro Tools, Hindenburg).
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Political Science, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
- Location: This position is based in KNKX's Tacoma, WA studios 5 days a week. This is a SAG-AFTRA union position.
Sets You Apart
- Strong understanding of Pacific Northwest political dynamics, regional history, and Western Washington community issues.
- Prior experience in public media (NPR/PRI/PRX network ecosystem).
- Experience hosting or moderating live audience events and community panels.
- A proven track record of sourcing diverse, non-traditional community voices across ideological and geographic boundaries.
- A flexible, audience-first mindset. You think about what listeners need, not just what is interesting to you.
- We want hosts who can handle the hard things and still bring joy and a twinkle in the eye.
How to Apply
Apply here: https://knkx.bamboohr.com/careers/67?source=aWQ9MjM%3D
Submit your:
- Resume
- Cover letter detailing your connection to the Pacific Northwest and your editorial philosophy
- Audio reel (3-5 minutes) featuring live interviews or hosting clips
Compensation and Benefits
Salary: $90,000 - $100,000 annually, depending on experience
KNKX offers a strong benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage with FSA option
- PTO and holidays, including the full week between Christmas and New Year's
- 401(k) with generous company match
- Disability, life, and AD&D insurance options
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Interview Process
- One-way video interview (4 short questions recorded on your own time)
- Phone screening with the myHR Partner hiring team
- Interview with the KNKX hiring committee
- Recording a test segment with KNKX on-air talent
- Final onsite interview
Our hiring management partner is myHR Partner. myHR Partner is not a staffing service or recruiter. All resumes/applications will be reviewed for this position and only for our organization.
Thank you for considering us as a potential employer!
