Food Reporter

Hearst • Dallas, TX

7d

About The Position

The Food Reporter covers the food, restaurant and dining news that D-FW readers are most eager to read, with a local focus. This fast-paced role calls for a tenacious, urgent reporter who can break news, develop scoops, build deep industry sources and respond to developing stories and online conversations. The reporter is expected to use social media for newsgathering and pitching, bring knowledge of local food and dining, and continuously generate original story ideas.

The role includes writing about restaurant openings and closings, trends and other food topics; contributing to the Top 100 restaurant guide with the restaurant critic; and producing monthly roundups. The reporter will also develop digital-first stories using links, tags, SEO practices, compelling web headlines and multimedia when appropriate, and collaborate with editors on coverage approaches that resonate with digital audiences. The position may assist with special digital projects, including video and audio.

The newsroom uses AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise and Hearst DevHub-built tools, to assist with routine tasks such as generating headline and SEO options, editing for grammar and clarity, adapting stories for formats and platforms, monitoring public meetings, and processing or summarizing data. AI-assisted work is human-verified, and the posting emphasizes that AI supports rather than replaces journalism.

Requirements

• At least three years of daily reporting experience.
• Excellent news judgment, accuracy, speed, grammatical precision, headline writing, energy, curiosity and ability to produce impactful local restaurant coverage for digital audiences.
• Proficiency with digital content management tools.
• Ability to use social media for newsgathering and audience development.
• Demonstrated ability to work remotely via smartphone or laptop computer.
• Understanding of platforms and audiences and ability to tailor stories to publication platforms, including voice, style, formatting and hyperlinks.
• Deep knowledge of SEO techniques and digital best practices.
• Ability to use accepted newsroom tools for planning, authoring and communication.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and across newsroom teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and produce stories quickly and accurately.
• Knowledge of digital news analytics.
• Valid driver's license and registered vehicle for travel to assignments.

Responsibilities

• Write quickly and accurately about a variety of food and restaurant topics, with a local focus.
• Develop deep sourcing in the local food and dining industry to break stories.
• Cover prominent restaurant openings and closings and identify trends.
• Work with the restaurant critic on the Top 100 restaurant guide and other coverage.
• Write monthly roundups on topics such as restaurant closings.
• Use social media to develop story ideas and respond to audience conversations.
• Build stories with links, tags, SEO best practices, attractive web headlines and multimedia when appropriate.
• Work with editors to develop coverage models that resonate with digital audiences.
• Assist with special digital projects, including video and audio projects, as needed.
• Use newsroom AI tools to support routine reporting and production tasks, with human verification of AI-assisted data processing and summaries.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed