News & Politics - Minneapolis City Hall Reporter

The Star Tribune is the Upper Midwest's largest news organization, with audience numbers consistently in the top five in the country among regional and national peers. Building on an extraordinary legacy that includes seven Pulitzer Prizes and hundreds of other awards, the Star Tribune is an unrivaled force for journalistic excellence in Minnesota. It is also a company under transformation - realigning to better serve its digital audience through innovative partnerships, technology strategies, and a refreshed strategic direction. Our company has a vision to create the leading model for local news in America - driving innovation in media to make every Minnesotan's life better. We are looking for dynamic leaders to help create that model. We are excited to work with people who care about journalism and democracy and are eager to reinvent one of our state's most trusted companies for an era of growth that embraces advanced technologies and strategies for excellence.

Job Summary: Minneapolis City Hall Reporter

We are seeking an aggressive, enterprising reporter to break news and produce smart enterprise out of Minneapolis City Hall. This reporter will need to develop excellent sourcing to write with authority about issues from budgetary debates to development to the city's moves to transform public safety and comply with a court-enforced consent decree on police reforms.

The mayor and the City Council will be the focus of this beat, but this reporter needs to show how decisions made downtown affect people, neighborhoods and institutions throughout Minneapolis. This reporter will be expected to tell the story of a full range of people who do business in City Hall, from the mayor to the citizens who try to get things done there.

This reporter will hold the mayor, City Council and departments accountable for their spending and effectiveness. He or she will need to collaborate effectively with others covering Minneapolis and other topics on the Cities Team.

A successful reporter on this beat will juggle breaking news with enterprise; help our readers understand the complicated politics behind Minneapolis city government; scrutinize the city budget and taxes, and spot trends or problems in city neighborhoods. It is important for this reporter to be able to put what is happening in Minneapolis in context with other large cities around the country.

We require solid news judgment, skilled writing and an aggressive approach to getting news to our readers quickly, on all channels and platforms.

You will:

• Be relentlessly audience centric. Seek out and use data about where our audience is - and where we can reach new audiences - and work to break news and produce enterprise that meets audience needs and interests.
• Be enterprising and entrepreneurial. Our readers most value news and insightful reporting not seen elsewhere. Staying informed about evolving issues and emerging developments will result in stories of interest to statewide and regional audiences.
• Be a watchdog willing to hold government agencies and private interests accountable for how they wield power and influence.
• Collaborate with reporters on the Cities Team and in News & Politics and other departments across the newsroom to determine daily, weekly and ongoing coverage strategies on multiple platforms.
• Collaborate with your editors and the Audience team to build avenues for engagement and amplification of your work and the Star Tribune.
• Leverage other mediums, such as audio and video and the camera on your cell phone, to reach wide audiences.
• Meet deadlines on stories from the quick-turn to the long-range.
• Work regularly from the Star Tribune's downtown headquarters.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
• A portfolio of published work demonstrating solid news judgment, deep reporting, engaging writing and comfort with a broad range of topics.
• A solid grasp of data and analysis tools, and state and federal data practices statutes.
• A deep understanding of Minnesota and how it is changing.
• An ability to connect with sources and subjects from diverse backgrounds and include overlooked or ignored viewpoints.
• High standards and a commitment to fairness and accuracy.
• The ability to multitask and juggle priorities on deadline.
• A commitment to using 21st century digital tools, tracking and analyzing online audience trends and building strategies to engage readers.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, track budgets and multitask in a high-pressure environment.
• A commitment to the Star Tribune's standards, mission and values, including journalism that reflects the diversity of Minnesota and the Star Tribune's audience.

To apply:
Please upload a resume and a memo describing how you would approach covering the Twin Cities metro region, and why you are the best person for the position.

Pay for this position starts at $81,026 a year, based on the A4-scale level in the contract of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild.

Questions?

More about the Star Tribune:
At the Star Tribune, we believe that our employees are our most valuable assets. We go above and beyond to ensure their happiness, growth and overall well-being. Here is a glimpse into the exceptional benefits we offer:

Modern downtown office with a free fitness center and rooftop patio. Commuting subsidy, medical, dental, and vision insurance. Wellness program with financial incentives. Paid time off that includes flexible holidays to honor the preferences of employees, plus one volunteer day and two wellness days. 401(k) with company match, parental and caregiving leaves, flexible work arrangements, employee assistance program, pet insurance, tuition reimbursement, flexible spending, and health savings accounts.

Selected in 2023 to Diversity MBA's inaugural list of Top 25 Outstanding Leadership and Diversity Impact Awards.