General Assignment Reporter Job at Statesman Journal / Gannett in Abilene

Overview

General Assignment Reporter at Statesman Journal / Gannett. The Abilene Reporter-News / reporternews.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks a general news reporter with experience across the board in newsroom assignments to cover West Texas. The role includes breaking news, features, hard news and in-depth projects, with a primary focus on business, especially restaurant news and tech. The job requires building a source network in the community and working with administrators and others in education, state officials, and related areas to enhance coverage.

Responsibilities

• Create content (articles, videos, photos and social media posts) about local news that accurately informs, entertains and engages key audiences and platforms.
• Provide in-person coverage of events and meetings, and conduct in-person interviews.
• Provide thoughtful in-depth coverage of complex issues.
• Work toward becoming the community’s leading voice for news and issues in Abilene.
• Plan and execute engagement opportunities to reach audiences through content, community events and social media.
• Work with the editor to evaluate what’s working and develop ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
• Collaborate with the content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (photos, videos, graphics).
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Provide excellent customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
• Performs other duties as necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-2 years’ reporting experience (including freelancing, internships and college publication work).
• Adept at taking photos and video and ability to file quickly across platforms (mobile, desktop and social media).
• Strong command of grammar and copy-editing skills; able to produce clean, publication-ready content.
• Passionate about news and content that works with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• Desire to grow and develop key beats in the newsroom.
• Comfortable using social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit) to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understands reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excels in a fast-paced, digital-first news environment and collaborates well with others.
• Willing to work extended hours, evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and state-required liability insurance.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, include a single document file (PDF) that includes in this order: your resume (1–2 pages), a cover letter outlining how you would approach the job, and links to 3–6 online samples of your work. Ensure items are assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format to receive the highest consideration.

About

Gannett Co., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. We will consider all qualified applicants fair for employment and do not discriminate on protected characteristics. Applicants who require reasonable accommodation should contact Recruit@gannett.com.