Court Reporter

Advance Media • Cleveland, OH

22d • $50,000 - $65,000

About The Position

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are seeking an aggressive, curious criminal
justice reporter
to cover Northeast Ohio.

This role in Ohio's largest newsroom goes far beyond transcription and the
police blotter. This reporter will be on the front lines of breaking news,
expected to move fast and be among the first to publish accurate, hard-hitting
crime and public safety stories as they unfold. We’re looking for a reporter who
will step back from the daily churn to develop ambitious enterprise stories that
explain how
the system works and whom
it affects. You’ll be part of a team
committed to meaningful coverage of safety, equity and accountability in our
communities.

We don't want to just recite the facts on a fatal shooting, for example. We aim
to add clarity, accountability and humanity. Our criminal justice reporting has
examined gun violence through the lens of public health, probed juvenile crime
trends and explored local anxieties among immigrant communities in the wake of
ICE aggression. This reporter will help push that work forward as part of a team
led by editor
Amy
Russo.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field or equivalent experience
• A minimum of three years of journalism experience with a proven ability in reporting and writing.
• Experience covering crime and public safety
• Demonstrated ability to work well on deadline
• Strong enterprise instincts and a track record of developing original story ideas
• Solid understanding of criminal justice systems and legal processes
• Comfort working with public records and data
• This job requires reliable transportation to meet sources and cover breaking news in the field.

Responsibilities

• Break news fast: Cover breaking public safety news with speed and accuracy, often under tight deadlines. Then work to flesh out that initial report with detail, background and context.
• Build sources and trust: Develop strong relationships with law enforcement, attorneys, advocates, victims and impacted communities.
• Dig deeper: Pitch and produce enterprise stories that investigate law enforcement practices, crime trends and the justice system itself. This includes sourcing beyond official narratives and digging into data and records.
• Be innovative: Regularly use AI tools to knock out daily stories, understand data and deepen enterprise.

What This Job Offers

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