Food & Dining Reporter/Editor

USA TODAY Co. • Savannah, GA

123d

About The Position

The Savannah Morning News/savannahnow.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an ambitious, digitally savvy Food & Dining Reporter/Editor to lead coverage of Savannah’s culinary scene. The role will tell the story of the city’s food culture through compelling journalism, audience-focused service content, video storytelling, and enterprise reporting that helps readers discover where to eat, what’s new, and why Savannah’s food culture matters.

The successful candidate will help establish the Savannah Morning News as the leading source for food and dining coverage in Coastal Georgia. They will produce journalism that supports audience growth, engagement, and subscriptions, creates lasting utility and search value, and expands reach across platforms through video storytelling. The position also serves as a content editor in the newsroom.

Familiarity with Savannah, Coastal Georgia, Southern culture, or restaurant coverage is preferred. The role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law. The candidate must work weekends and nights when there is major breaking news.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications or journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least three years of newsroom experience.
• Facility with AI and automation, including experience using them to enhance journalism.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce clean, accurate, publication-ready content.
• Comfort using social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Strong reporting, writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience creating digital-first content, including video and social media storytelling.
• Understanding of audience analytics, SEO, and engagement strategies.
• Ability to work independently, develop sources, and manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work weekends and nights when there is major breaking news.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Savannah, Coastal Georgia, Southern culture, or restaurant coverage.

Responsibilities

• Lead food and dining coverage across digital, video, social, and newsletter platforms.
• Serve as a content editor in the newsroom.
• Report and write breaking news, features, profiles, trend stories, reviews, and enterprise pieces focused on restaurants, chefs, food culture, and the local hospitality industry.
• Create service journalism, including restaurant guides, rankings, dining recommendations, best-of lists, and seasonal coverage.
• Develop video content showcasing restaurants, chefs, local food traditions, and dining experiences.
• Build and maintain relationships with chefs, restaurant owners, industry leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Identify emerging food and dining trends and turn them into audience-focused content.
• Edit and package stories to maximize digital engagement, search visibility, and social distribution.
• Collaborate with visual journalists, audience teams, and newsroom leaders to grow readership and subscriptions.

What This Job Offers

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