Radio Journalist Onboarding Checklist

Radio Journalist Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Radio Journalist starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Media onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Radio Journalist, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Radio Journalist onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Radio Journalist Onboarding Checklist

1. Introduction to the company: The new radio journalist should be given a comprehensive introduction to the company, including its history, mission, values, and organizational structure. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated company representative.

2. Familiarization with company policies and procedures: The new journalist should be provided with a detailed overview of the company’s policies and procedures, such as code of conduct, ethics guidelines, and editorial standards. This task is usually performed by the HR department or the editor-in-chief.

3. Introduction to the newsroom: The new journalist should be introduced to the newsroom environment, including the layout, equipment, and software used for news gathering, editing, and broadcasting. This task is typically performed by a senior journalist or the newsroom manager.

4. Training on broadcasting equipment: The new journalist should receive training on operating the broadcasting equipment, including microphones, mixers, audio recorders, and editing software. This task is usually performed by a technical specialist or an experienced radio journalist.

5. Shadowing experienced journalists: The new journalist should have the opportunity to shadow experienced journalists during their assignments, observing their reporting techniques, interview skills, and news writing style. This task is typically coordinated by the newsroom manager or an assigned mentor.

6. Introduction to the editorial team: The new journalist should be introduced to the editorial team, including editors, producers, and other journalists. This task helps foster collaboration and understanding of the team dynamics and is typically performed by the newsroom manager or a senior journalist.

7. Research and familiarization with the target audience: The new journalist should conduct research to understand the target audience of the radio station, including their demographics, interests, and preferences. This task is typically performed individually by the journalist, with guidance from the newsroom manager or the program director.

8. Review of previous broadcasts: The new journalist should review previous broadcasts to familiarize themselves with the station’s style, tone, and content. This task helps the journalist align their reporting with the station’s brand and is typically performed individually, with occasional guidance from the newsroom manager or an experienced journalist.

9. Introduction to news sources and contacts: The new journalist should be provided with a list of key news sources and contacts relevant to their beat or area of coverage. This task is typically performed by the newsroom manager or an experienced journalist.

10. Training on journalistic ethics and standards: The new journalist should receive training on journalistic ethics, including accuracy, fairness, and impartiality. They should also be familiarized with the station’s editorial standards and guidelines. This task is typically performed by the newsroom manager, editor-in-chief, or a designated ethics trainer.

11. Introduction to newsroom software and systems: The new journalist should receive training on the newsroom software and systems used for story assignments, content management, and collaboration. This task is typically performed by the newsroom manager or a technical specialist.

12. Practice in news writing and editing: The new journalist should be given opportunities to practice news writing and editing skills, with feedback and guidance from experienced journalists or editors. This task helps the journalist refine their storytelling abilities and is typically performed in collaboration with the editorial team.

13. Introduction to legal considerations: The new journalist should receive an overview of legal considerations in journalism, including defamation, privacy, and copyright laws. This task is typically performed by the newsroom manager, legal counsel, or an experienced journalist.

14. Introduction to social media and digital journalism: The new journalist should be introduced to the station’s social media strategy and guidelines, as well as digital journalism practices such as live reporting, multimedia storytelling, and audience engagement. This task is typically performed by the newsroom manager or a digital media specialist.

15. Performance evaluation and goal setting: The new journalist should have a performance evaluation meeting with their supervisor to discuss their progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. They should also set goals for their professional development within the company. This task is typically performed by the newsroom manager or the supervisor

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Radio Journalist checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Radio Journalist up to speed and working well in your Media team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.