Service Journalism Reporter -- Springfield, IL Job at Gannett Co., Inc. in Sprin

Springfield, IL, USA

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 4:00 AM

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth-focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States. The State Journal-Register, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a local government service journalism reporter who is energetic, flexible and puts our audience first.

Breaking and daily news are part of the beat. This digital-savvy reporter digs deep and develops exclusive reporting on how local government decisions affect residents and their families, their wallets, and their neighborhoods. The successful candidate is flexible and produces smart, context-filled stories and other content on tight deadlines while developing high-impact journalism on longer project schedules. They understand we are a digital-first news organization and are comfortable writing for various platforms.

The position will primarily focus on the Springfield region but will also cover nearby communities, along with providing content of local, regional, and statewide interest. The successful candidate will have a passion for community journalism and become part of the communities they cover.

Responsibilities:

• Focus on service journalism centered around local government.
• Capitalize on live, breaking and trending moments by creating quick-turn content for social media and other digital platforms.
• Be proficient with social media tools and trends, specifically on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
• Enhance content with video, galleries, SEO metadata, hyperlinks, and images.
• Produce content in alternative forms, such as listicles, Q&As, narratives, photo galleries, and video.
• Create storytelling that accurately informs, entertains, and engages specific audiences and platforms using metrics.
• Work with local editor and digital producer/planner to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop dynamic plans to better satisfy audience needs.
• Capture basic photos and video as needed.
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues, and the institutional brand.
• Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-2 years’ reporting experience, which could include freelancing, internships and college publication work.
• Experience covering government preferred.
• Adept at taking photos and video and will file quickly across platforms: mobile, desktop and social media.
• Command of grammar, AP style, media law, and SPJ Code of Ethics.
• Strong self-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate, and publication ready.
• Passionate about news content that engages audiences on social platforms.
• Comfort in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• A desire to grow and develop a key position in our newsroom.
• Collaborates well with others and can work with a dispersed team on the biggest stories.
• 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.
• Links to 3-6 online samples of your work.

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.

Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where Gannett employs employees.