County Government Reporter

Advance Media • City of Syracuse, NY

19d • $60,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Strengthening and empowering all of the communities we serve.

Onondaga County is poised for once-in-a-generation growth that will reshape the
region for decades. We need a dogged journalist to cover the government
overseeing that growth and how decisions impact hundreds of thousands of people
in the area.

Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard are looking for a county issues reporter to
join our watchdog/public affairs team.

It’s a fast-moving beat during a fast-moving time. Billions of dollars in
private investment from tech companies will reshape the county and its
government. Political power in the region is shifting. And the county is
responsible for delivering some of our most critical services: clean water,
social safety nets, child welfare and our jails and sheriffs.

The ideal candidate should love the intrigue of politics, the details of policy
and the discovery that comes with introducing readers to new people and ideas.
They should have a keen eye for wrongdoing and the toughness it takes to write
truthfully about powerful interests.

We don’t just document meetings. We look to have impact. We value reporters
wired to build sources, dig into data, solve problems, find fault, and advocate
for people who need help.

You’ll find support in this newsroom that is expanding its audience and reach,
learning new approaches and driving the discussion here. Our skilled newsroom
has won national awards and dominated the state AP awards for years.

This isn’t an entry-level job. To be considered, you’ll have to demonstrate that
you’ve delivered difficult work somewhere.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications or related field, and more than 3 years of relevant work experience
• The ability to work quickly, but with accuracy and good news judgment
• Watchdog journalism experience
• Ability to develop and cultivate sources
• Digital storytelling skills and an open mind to trying new approaches
• Relentless curiosity and a good sense of humor
• This job requires reliable transportation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees