Gannett - McLean, VA
posted 4 months ago
About the position
Join us in restoring local news as the center of community life in Bedford, IN. We are seeking an experienced journalist who understands Bedford, preferably a local or someone returning to their roots. You should be energized by the idea of being the community's most informative voice, plugged in with local newsmakers and influencers, and brimming with questions and ideas. This role is not just a job; it’s a calling to save local journalism. You will respect the ethical principles of our profession and demand verification over rumors. As part of an ambitious expansion of a successful initiative across the U.S., you will work closely (remotely) with an experienced editor and be part of a nationwide team in Gannett's Center for Community Journalism. Your primary responsibility will be to report on the community, discovering and answering its most pressing questions. You will be the voice behind a local email newsletter, Daily Briefing, where you will engage readers with a daily rundown of the news. You will write and curate must-read stories for this newsletter independently, under tight deadlines, and innovate strategies to grow the audience and convert casual readers into paying subscribers. In this role, you will be the only reporter in Bedford, requiring you to be highly self-motivated and resourceful. While the position is remote, you must be willing to relocate to Bedford, IN. You will enjoy work-from-home flexibility but will regularly meet face-to-face with sources and community members, and may need to hustle to the scene of breaking news. The successful candidate will possess strong writing, reporting, and multimedia skills, display excellent news judgment, and be a constant generator of story ideas.
Responsibilities
- Report on the community and discover its most pressing questions.
- Write and curate must-read stories for the Daily Briefing newsletter.
- Engage readers with a daily rundown of the day's news.
- Innovate and strategize about growing the newsletter audience.
- Convert casual readers into paying subscribers.
- Use tools like SEO and Google Trends to enhance content visibility.
- Monitor newsletter metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Work effectively with editors, peers, and strategists across the company.
- Practice effective and ethical use of social media for connecting with sources.
- Provide great customer service to readers.
Requirements
- College degree or equivalent work experience in local news.
- 1-3 years of reporting experience, preferably with a digital focus.
- Commitment to detail, accuracy, and fairness.
- Command of grammar, AP style, media law, and SPJ Code of Ethics.
- Ability to multi-task and excel under deadline pressure.
- Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Nice-to-haves
- Familiarity with tools to monitor newsletter metrics.
- Experience in generating SEO-driven headlines.
- Ability to experiment with formats and styles.
Benefits
- Flexible work-from-home options.
- Opportunity to be part of a nationwide team in community journalism.
- Engagement with local newsmakers and influencers.
