Investigative Reporter/Mmj - Wndu

Gray Media • South Bend, IN

5d • Onsite

About The Position

WNDU in South Bend, Indiana is looking for an Investigative Reporter/MMJ. You will dig. You will file records requests. You will work sources. You will gather documents. You will tell complex, consequential stories in ways that are clear, fair, and impossible to ignore. And you will do it across every platform, on air, online, and on social. This role is not just about producing lengthy series pieces; we expect you on air regularly as part of the 16 News Now team. When a breaking news story has an investigative angle, a document, a record, a source with context no one else has, we want you gathering and fronting that information, bringing depth and accountability to stories as they happen, not weeks later. If you have the chops and the experience, we want to hear from you; apply now.

Requirements

• Proven investigative or accountability reporting experience; we want to see the work.
• A track record of using public records, data, or documents to break original stories.
• The ability to work at two speeds simultaneously: daily investigative hits AND longer-term series development.
• Strong on-camera presence and MMJ skills; you shoot, edit, and present your own material, and you are comfortable being a visible, recognizable face of the 16 News Now brand.
• Source development skills built over time; you have relationships, and you know how to build new ones.
• The ability to take a dense, document-heavy story and make it matter to a general audience.
• Unshakable ethical standards; you understand the weight of this work, and you handle it accordingly.
• Comfort with legal and editorial scrutiny; you document your reporting, and you stand behind it.
• Resilience: investigations get complicated, sources go cold, and stories take longer than expected, but you do not quit.
• Valid U.S. driver's license and ability to drive a company vehicle.
• Must be able to carry 35+ pounds of gear, and be experienced in shooting and editing unique content. We do have photographers to partner with on appropriate assignments.

Nice To Haves

• A journalism-related degree is preferred, but not required; your body of work must speak for itself.
• Familiarity with ENPS, Arc, and Edius is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Drive original daily investigative and enterprise reporting for WNDU. We need more than a long-form series. We want accountability journalism that shows up in every newscast.
• File and manage public records requests (FOIA, state open records) as a core reporting tool, not an afterthought.
• Use data, documents, and records to build stories from the ground up.
• Develop, cultivate, and protect confidential sources across government, law enforcement, business, and the community.
• Examine breaking and day-of news through an investigative lens - gathering records, sourcing context, and fronting stories that go deeper than the surface.
• Manage longer-form investigations simultaneously at different stages of development.
• Shoot, write, edit, and present your own stories as a full MMJ. Own the story from pitch to air. We do have photographers who will work with you, but you shouldn't be reliant on them for every story or shoot.
• Translate complex investigative findings into compelling, accessible content for broadcast, digital, and social audiences.
• Collaborate with editorial leadership on story development, legal review, and publication strategy.
• Uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and SPJ ethics - every story, every time.

Benefits

• Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Gray Media expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Gray’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree