General Assignment Reporter

VTDigger•Montpelier, VT

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This journalist will cover breaking news around Vermont. When the state Legislature is in session, this reporter will primarily assist with that coverage but also help with other breaking news stories. When the Legislature isn’t in session, this reporter will focus on breaking news stories around Vermont. During the legislative session, which generally runs from January through May, this reporter is expected to report in person at the Statehouse as often as five days a week, subject to coverage needs. As part of this coverage of politics and policy, this reporter will look for examples of how Vermont’s government is working well for its citizens and how it is falling short. This reporter will contribute to VTDigger’s award-winning daily legislative newsletter, Final Reading, when the Legislature is in session. This position involves tracking leads from VTDigger’s tip line, covering state agencies charged with supporting, promoting and regulating businesses, and localizing changes to federal policy; contributing to Statehouse coverage; and tackling such topics as Vermont’s workforce shortage, aging population and broadband deployment. The reporter’s general assignment duties will vary widely. The position may evolve over time, based on the newsroom’s needs and the reporter’s interests.

Requirements

Commitment and dedication to VTDigger’s mission, goals and values
Exceptional attention to detail
Commitment to accuracy and fairness
Adherence to the highest ethical standards
A digital-first mentality and interest in ensuring newsletters serve readers
Commitment to cultivating and developing an inclusive culture and working relationships across the organization and enhancing a sense of belonging
Communicative and collaborative across the organization, with employees and with VTDigger’s audiences
Commitment to continual improvement and learning
Professional reporting experience
Ability to meet short deadlines
Demonstrated ability to cover a beat
Passion for enterprise and investigative reporting
Clear understanding of journalism principles, ethics, standards and style
Curiosity, flexibility and a willingness to tackle stories over a range of subjects
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer. VTDigger does not provide visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of state and/or federal legislative processes preferred but not required

Responsibilities

Writes 3-4 stories a week, plus briefs for newsletters
Generates compelling pitches and cultivates sources on the beat
Fulfills story assignments made by editors
Meets deadlines set in collaboration with editors and works collaboratively through the editing process
Works with multimedia team to ensure stories include strong visual, data and audio/video elements when possible
Contributes to legislative coverage, including VTDigger’s Final Reading newsletter
Reports in-person when possible to establish relationships with sources
Closely monitors local, state and national media coverage in search of fresh angles on established stories
Places public records requests and seeks out investigative pieces
Communicates professionally with sources, readers and colleagues
Attends and participates in newsroom, all-staff and, as needed, cross-functional team meetings
Attends VTDigger events, as needed