General Assignment Reporter

Gannett Co • Abilene, TX

134d

About The Position

The Abilene Reporter-News, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a general news reporter with experience across various newsroom assignments to cover West Texas. The ideal candidate will be an experienced and versatile reporter with knowledge of local government and public safety coverage, and proficiency in Excel is a plus. The reporter will cover a range of topics including breaking news, features, hard news, and in-depth projects, with a primary focus on business, particularly restaurant news and technology. The role involves making contacts in the business community to facilitate breaking stories about new restaurants and other businesses, as well as covering educational institutions in the area, including public school districts and private universities. The reporter will also engage with the community to build a source network, conduct interviews, and provide comprehensive coverage of education and business issues, especially those related to technology. The position requires collaboration with other journalists and a commitment to teamwork, as well as flexibility in adapting to the fast-paced digital news environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-2 years' reporting experience, which could include freelancing, internships, and college publication work.
• Adept at taking photos and video and ability to file quickly across platforms: mobile, desktop, and social media.
• Strong command of grammar.
• Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate, and publication ready.
• Passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• A desire to grow and develop key beats in our newsroom.
• Comfortable using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understands reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital first mission.
• Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
• Willingness to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays, sometimes unexpectedly.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of local government and public safety coverage.
• Experience in business reporting, especially related to restaurants and technology.
• Familiarity with the local community and its key issues.

Responsibilities

• Create content (articles, videos, photos, and social media posts) about local news that accurately informs, entertains, and engages key audiences and platforms.
• Provide in-person coverage of events and meetings, as well as conduct in-person interviews.
• Provide thoughtful in-depth coverage of complex issues.
• Work toward becoming the community's leading voice for news and issues in Abilene.
• Plan and execute engagement opportunities to reach audiences through content, community events, and social media.
• Work with the editor to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
• Collaborate with the content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e., photos, videos, and graphics).
• Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues, and the institutional brand.
• Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees