Breaking News Reporter
About The Position
The Bay Area News Group is hiring a Breaking News Reporter for The Mercury News. The reporter will join a team covering major daily news across the Bay Area, including public safety, health, weather, and wildfires. The role combines fast-paced breaking-news coverage with enterprise reporting, follow-up stories, and coverage of patterns and trends affecting the region. The reporter will be based at the San Jose office and is expected to complete field assignments anywhere in the Bay Area. The position may involve varied hours and shift work, including coverage outside normal business hours. Applicants should submit an online application, resume, cover letter, and four to five samples of their work. Recruitment is continuous until the role is filled. Employment is contingent on completing required pre-employment checks, including a background check and motor vehicle record check, and maintaining a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Occasional work-related driving is required.
Requirements
- Strong news judgment and a competitive drive.
- A track record of reporting that goes beyond surface-level coverage.
- Experience using sources, records, and data to uncover original stories.
- Ability to manage multiple stories under deadline pressure.
- Comfort reporting and publishing across digital platforms and social media.
- At least one to two years of professional or student journalism experience.
- Must be willing to submit to and pass required pre-employment checks, including a background check and MVR.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Must be available for shift work and may need to work various hours outside normal business hours.
- Must be able to travel for occasional work assignments, in-person training, and/or meetings, and transport oneself between sites as needed.
Nice To Haves
- Additional language skills.
Responsibilities
- Respond quickly to breaking news of public interest and impact.
- Develop sources within local police, fire, and government agencies.
- Report and write from breaking-news scenes in the field.
- Monitor court filings, public records, and social media to find news stories and trending topics.
- Collaborate across the newsroom on high-impact coverage.
- Report and publish across platforms in real time.
- Write clear, engaging stories with authority.
- Identify strong follow-up stories and pursue deeper reporting with competitive urgency.
Benefits
- Cell phone stipend.
- Eligible employees may receive medical, dental, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), paid time off, and select paid holidays; benefits are subject to eligibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
