Breaking News Reporter
The Statesman Journal/statesmanjournal.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a breaking news reporter.
This reporter is the Statesman Journal's first line of defense for breaking news, including shootings and fatal crashes, road closures, floods, and earthquakes. Superb source development with police agencies, first responders, and state and local officials is mandatory.
You and your colleagues work with editors to shape the best way to tell individual stories, from text to audio to video to Q&As or other alternative formats.
You also will cover policing and criminal justice through a governmental accountability lens, including the challenges our community faces in rebuilding trust with neglected communities.You will seek out a wide perspective, cultivate diverse sources, and devote resources to debunking myths and stereotypes.
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Metrics and audience research will help guide decisions about how to cover topics and issues as you engage with readers on a variety of platforms to drive audience and subscriber growth.
Necessary skills include the ability to report and write quickly with accuracy, comfort with posting stories through multiple iterations as events unfold, and shooting, editing, and posting videos and photographs from the field on deadline.
You also will frequently collaborate with colleagues on bigger breaking news.
Candidates will only be considered if they have a college degree and have completed at least one internship or a year of experience in a digital-first newsroom.
The Statesman Journal covers Marion and Polk counties in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Salem is Oregon's state capital and is one hour from Portland and 90 minutes from the Oregon Coast. Amazing outdoor experiences are even closer.
Responsibilities:
- Produce sensitive, insightful coverage that accurately informs and engages multiple audiences, providing a news product that offers context and diverse points of view.
- Use metrics and analytics to increase digital audience and engagement and grow digital subscriptions.
- Be courageous about experimentation and deliberate about evolving policy. Identify enterprise opportunities and chase them with passion.
- Leverage diverse tools, text, images, and video to reach readers in print, digital, and on social media.
- Be a team player who likes to collaborate with coworkers.
- Serve as an ambassador to the community on the Statesman Journal's behalf and actively seek to engage with marginalized portions of the community.
- Pitch in with stories on other topics and perform other duties as necessary.
- On occasion, work extended hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays, at times unexpectedly as news happens.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- A strong foundation in core writing and reporting skills and familiarity with public records.
- Enthusiasm for deep research and artful storytelling.
- Solid news judgment and a commitment to accuracy.
- Top-notch planning, organizational, and time management skills.
- Strong communication skills and habits with colleagues, sources, and the community.
- Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
- Understanding of metrics, social media, and SEO.
- Self-motivation and self-direction.
- Ability to multi-task and excel under intense deadline pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
- This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
- Your resume - one to two pages.
- A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
- Up to five samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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