Reporter / Assistant Editor Job at Express Employment Professionals - Cincinnati

Now Hiring: Reporter / Assistant Editor
Future Editor Track
Location: Thurston County, WA | Industry: Nonprofit Local News / Journalism
Employment Type: Full-Time | Long-Term Career Opportunity
Work Arrangement: Local / Hybrid | Regular In-Person Reporting Required
Pay: $25.00–$33.00/hr DOE | Future Editor Pay: $35.50–$38.50/hr DOE
Benefits: Monthly Health Insurance Stipend for Eligible Employees
About the Job

Express Employment Professionals is partnering with

The JOLT News Organization , publisher of The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater, to find an experienced

Reporter / Assistant Editor

who is interested in becoming part of the Thurston County community and growing into a newsroom leadership role.
The JOLT is an award-winning nonprofit local-news organization serving Thurston County with civic and general news published every weekday. The organization is committed to accurate, useful reporting that helps residents understand and participate in their community.
This position offers a unique career path. The successful candidate will begin as a Reporter / Assistant Editor, with the goal of transitioning into The JOLT's lead Editor role within approximately six to nine months, based on organizational needs, the current editor's retirement timeline, and demonstrated readiness.
This is not a remote reporting position. The role is centered around local, in-person journalism, including attending meetings and community events, conducting interviews, developing sources, and becoming connected to the community.
Key Responsibilities:

Report daily and breaking news, community stories, enterprise pieces, and occasional in-depth or investigative stories
Attend local meetings and community events and conduct in-person and phone interviews
Develop original story ideas that go beyond press releases and official announcements
Build relationships and reliable sources throughout Thurston County
Edit and fact-check stories for accuracy, fairness, clarity, completeness, and AP style
Help plan and assign coverage and provide clear reporting direction
Review headlines, captions, summaries, and social media copy
Collaborate with The JOLT's local team and contract reporters
Help evaluate and develop future beats, reporting methods, media and distribution channels, and editorial practices
Participate in newsroom coordination while continuing to actively report and write
Future Editor Opportunity:

The successful candidate is expected to transition into the lead Editor role within approximately six to nine months. As Editor, responsibilities will expand to include:
Setting editorial priorities and assigning coverage
Supervising, mentoring, and coaching reporters
Overseeing newsroom workflow and publication schedules
Maintaining editorial quality and consistency
Working closely with the Publisher/Executive Director to support The JOLT's mission and continued growth
Remaining actively involved in reporting and writing important local stories
What You Bring:

At least 3 years of professional reporting experience
At least 1 year of editing responsibilities, which may include editing staff or freelance work, assigning stories, reviewing drafts, or overseeing publication
Strong reporting, interviewing, writing, editing, and fact-checking skills
Strong command of grammar, spelling, and AP style
Sound news judgment and understanding of journalistic ethics, fairness, attribution, and source protection
Ability and willingness to live in Thurston County and regularly report in person
Experience covering local government, education, courts, housing, business, environmental issues, nonprofits, or public agencies is a plus
Enterprise, investigative, data, or public-records reporting experience is a plus
Newsroom leadership, mentoring, or story assignment experience is preferred
Experience with photography, video, audio, mapping, social media, data visualization, or online publishing is a plus
Experience collaborating with remote employees, contractors, or contributors is helpful
Familiarity with Thurston County or the broader South Puget Sound region is a plus
Work Arrangement & Compensation:

This position requires the employee to live in Thurston County and be regularly available for in-person reporting, interviews, community events, and newsroom collaboration.
The position may include a combination of working from home, reporting throughout the community, and meeting with the team in person or virtually.
During the Reporter / Assistant Editor transition period, the position pays $25.00–$33.00/hr DOE and is overtime eligible.
Upon promotion to Editor, the pay range increases to $35.50–$38.50/hr DOE.

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