Public safety, education, and development reporter, Taunton Daily Gazette, Massachusetts
The Taunton Daily Gazette/tauntongazette.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a tenacious, self-starting, digitally savvy journalist to cover the key beats of public safety, education and development.
An ideal candidate will be conscientious and collaborative, skeptical and comfortable with conflicting views. Flexibility is key, as are compassion and creativity: You might cover a protest one day, interview a victim's family the next, and end the week crunching statistics about housing developments.
Breaking news and public safety will be part of the mix. You'll need to dig deeper and seek a wider perspective, cultivate diverse sources and devote resources to debunking myths and stereotypes. You'll write about serious crime, scrutinize police tactics and spotlight social issues, while being sensitive to how our stories affect the various people and neighborhoods we cover.
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Education is a particularly key beat with schools seeing staggering rates of chronic absenteeism in the aftermath of the pandemic and school boards in the crosshairs of the culture wars.
Development is also an area of keen interest for readers -- what's going up, what's coming down - particularly in a housing market with soaring home prices and rents.
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. And the beat will evolve as you share best practices with network colleagues around the country.
Taunton, Massachusetts, is a small city with a rich history, Taunton was the first community in the American colonies to raise a flag - its very own "Liberty and Union" flag - in opposition to British rule. Maybe that explains why the political scene is still so lively and colorful in the Silver City, so nicknamed because it was once a hub of silver manufacturing. It is also known as the Christmas City because its annual holiday displays have made it a destination for a century. But it is a city in transition, with shifting demographics and manufacturing in decline, creating the kind of economic insecurity, inequities and tensions that cry out for a local newspaper to tell the big stories that are affecting our readers' lives.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- 1-2 or more years of professional journalism experience or significant internship experience, preferred
- High-level writing, communication and time management skills
- Demonstrated ability to work well on deadline
- Ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and publication ready
- Understanding of reporting ethics and sourcing
- This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
- Employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment, post-offer drug screen, motor vehicle record check and background check.
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.
- Links to 3-6 online 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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