Swift Communications is hiring: Regional Reporter in Gypsum

Location of this position depends on current location of candidate

Position Summary:

With similar challenges, interests and economies across the Western Slope, the goal of the regional team is to deliver content to the newspaper group that is relevant to our markets but takes a broader, statewide and regional lens to supplement our hyper-local focus at each property. Through a mix of short news items and longform stories that help deepen our readers’ understanding of key issues affecting their lives, this elite team will cover high interest beats at a regional level through the creation of enterprise reporting, spot news, series, investigations and discussion pieces.

This position is responsible for generating quality stories, photographs, videos and audio for the company’s websites, print newspapers, social media channels, magazines and special sections. The core functions of this role are to research, document, write and present the news in an honest, ethical, accurate and unbiased way. 

With a strong focus on Western Slope communities, regional reporters will be required to attend various engagements based on their beats, including state department meetings, press conferences, shareholder calls and other public events that inform readers about important issues. Collaborating with our properties across the Western Slope and building relationships with state department heads, communication directors and public officials will be a strong focus of this team. 

The optimal candidate will be a self-starter that can work independently and manage their flexible schedule to produce high quality content while also collaborating with other reporters. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Research, conduct interviews and fact-check details in order to write 4-6 stories per week


• Ensure stories are written in an honest, ethical, accurate and unbiased way


• Execute the regional editor’s vision and content plan


• Generate story ideas based on conversations with key sources, reviewing agendas, trends and documents while taking into consideration data on reader interest


• File and request public documents and records


• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including newsrooms and journalists from our company and outside of our company


• Adhere to the regional reporting team workflow and meet all deadlines


• Attend staff meetings, update shared budgets and communicate effectively with editors


• Edit and upload content in our content management system, with a strong attention to adding hyperlinks, photos, multimedia and fact boxes to stories


• Cover all news with urgency and a digital-first mindset that favors getting news online quickly


• Develop and cultivate relationships with key sources


• Pick up other duties and help other properties that may need reporting assistance.


• Mentor and help reporters at other properties


• Travel to our various properties to develop relationships with those teams and the communities we are reporting about — and travel, as necessary, to cover key news stories

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years at a daily newspaper


• College degree and/or 10 years of on-the-job reporting experience


• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle

Pay and Benefits:

Hourly rate range of $26-$28 per hour, depending on experience.

Benefits include up to a $500 annual recreation reimbursement, medical, dental and vision plans, vacation and sick leave, 401K match, and more.