City Reporter

USA TODAY Co. • Burlington, VT

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

Come write stories and make videos about Vermont’s largest city — home to Ben and Jerry’s, Bernie Sanders and the Burlington Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. As our city reporter, you’ll lead Burlington coverage every day with a beat that goes beyond dull meeting recaps. You’ll have the opportunity to profile people and places; burrow into issues such as our housing crisis, homelessness and addiction; and switch easily between storyteller and watchdog modes while covering the city from all angles. We're seeking someone eager to trawl public records, listen to locals and craft impact-focused stories that help people understand our community. This job offers the chance to drive a beat in a competitive media scene and get out in the field — we want a journalist who can track down sources and deliver work that shows life on the ground. The job relies on producing solid stories at a regular clip: We want you to be as enterprising in quick turns as you are with in-depth stories. Building sources and leads with strong beat coverage opens up avenues for investigations and more ambitious pieces. This is a hybrid role: You can divide your time between home and the office. You’ll be joining a tight team led by a recently hired editor who’s looking to strengthen our local news package and trust with audiences. Our reporters enjoy a newsroom focused on workshopping, coaching and finding ways to tell stories others aren’t. Plus: We do pies for birthdays. While we remain centered on written articles — and still love the smell of news ink — we’re looking for someone capable in the digital realm and comfortable meeting audiences where they are via vertical video stories. This is a new effort in which you can experiment and lead our local market. Burlington is really more like a big town. (We’ve only got 45,000 residents, after all.) It’s the economic and cultural capital of Vermont with a longstanding arts and music scene, acclaimed restaurants and craft breweries and easy access to the Green Mountains and Adirondacks across Lake Champlain. Outdoor recreation abounds here: bike paths, ski resorts, hiking trails, lakes. The University of Vermont and its medical center, two of the state’s largest employers, are based in the city. Burlington’s role as Vermont’s population hub — and its urban feel in a mostly rural state — gives it great potential for a curious journalist. As a state, we take a lot of pride in our stewardship of the environment, artisan food and communities that have some of the highest civic engagement in the country. We buck national trends in lots of ways — but Vermont is more complex than the holiday-card picture people often envision, and as a reporter with us, you’ll have the chance to interrogate those ideas.

Requirements

• At least one to three years in journalism — freelance, internship and college outlet work considered. We’d like to hear from people of all experience levels, including longtime reporters.
• A degree in journalism, English, communications or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is preferred.
• Top-notch writing skills that prize clarity, flair and concision. Curiosity, creativity and a command of ethical reporting skills are much valued.
• Ability and time-management skills to independently find and deliver stories while juggling deadlines each week.
• Comfort with producing vertical videos, along with more traditional articles.
• Willingness to work closely with an editor to grow skills and sharpen stories.
• Comfort with using social media, Google Trends and SEO to find story ideas and figure out how we can best reach people.
• A valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level