Investigative Reporter
About The Position
The Southern California News Group is seeking an experienced reporter to join our watchdog team full-time to produce vital investigative stories that inform and protect our readers. Our four-county coverage area needs skilled, enthusiastic journalists who aggressively seek to shine a light on the issues that impact the lives of the millions who live in the region. If that type of accountability journalism is in your blood, apply to join SCNG’s watchdog team. We’re looking for a reporter who is adept at using public records and databases, skilled at interviewing sources who may not want to talk and talented at crafting powerful narratives on important topics. And we want someone who works well independently, embraces opportunities to help the team and welcomes collaboration with the team’s Pulitzer Prize-winning editor.
Requirements
- Skill at navigating Pacer and LexisNexis public databases
- Strength in crafting California Public Records Act and Freedom of Information Act requests for maximum success
- Experience using spreadsheets to analyze large datasets
- Skill at interview techniques with sources who may not want to talk
- Adherence to strict ethical standards
- Understand and use company-provided hardware, software and cloud-based equipment and systems for company business and tasks
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
- At least four years of professional journalism experience with prior investigative reporting experience preferred
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation
- Must be available for shift work.
- May be required to work various hours for coverage outside of normal business hours
- A full pre-employment background check and MVR will be conducted as part of the selection process.
- Must be willing to submit and pass the necessary required checks
- Travel – This position entails occasional driving for work assignments, training sessions, and/or meetings. The employee will be responsible for transporting themselves between different sites as needed
Nice To Haves
- Facility with multiple languages is a plus
Responsibilities
- Generate enterprise story ideas and develop sources on topics not typically covered by beat reporters
- Occasionally work in tandem with less experienced beat reporters
- Discuss stories throughout the process with the assignment editor, including (but not limited to): idea development, overcoming hurdles, editing, strategy for presentation and analysis of analytics
- Collaboration with our digital, photo, graphics and social media teams
- Know where to go and how to access public records from courts and public agencies
- Find workarounds when roadblocks arise that could stifle an enterprise project
- Enterprise reporting is our first mission, but the reporter also must be adept at the deadline stories that arise and be able to write with speed
Benefits
- In addition to your salary, the Company offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 401k, as well as paid time off and select paid holidays (all benefits are based on eligibility).
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
