News Reporter - Children's K-12 education, health and welfare

USA Today Co•Knoxville, TN

29d

About The Position

The way a community takes care of its children – their health, welfare, education and development – is a key indication of its values, aspirations and problem-solving abilities. Newsrooms traditionally have set up coverage of children focused on education or schools, definitions that narrow the lens and inevitably fix the focus on institutions. We aim to go beyond that, to tell meaningful stories with solutions-oriented angles about how parents, educators, public officials and the community collectively plan for the future of our children. This beat will demand deep source-building and consistent engagement, and the ability to tell stories on different platforms and in varied formats.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in experience and education.
Record of excellence in reporting.
Strong news judgment.
Outstanding research skills and ability to build extensive contacts.
Ability to create trust within your niche community.
Knowledge of AP style.
SEO proficiency.
Excellent communication skills.
Passion about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
Expertise using social media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X to enhance reporting and promote stories.
Knowledge of reporting ethics and sourcing.
Candidates should have facility with AI and automation and experience in using it to enhance their journalism
Ability to collaborate well with others and to work within geographically separated teams on the biggest stories.
Must be willing to travel on short notice to cover breaking news events.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Responsibilities

Creates storytelling that accurately informs, engages and enlightens our audience.
Explores and reports on children in East Tennessee, particularly Knox County, with a focus on connecting with our audience’s passions.
Works toward becoming the community’s leading voice on children's issues.
Demonstrates clear concise writing skills and an emphasis on “why this is important to me.”
Understands that people love to read about where they’re from and how it’s viewed from home and from outside.
Works with our content strategist and audience analyst to evaluate what's working and what's not and develops ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
Collaborates with our content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e. videos, photos and graphics). Captures basic video and photos as needed.
Promotes personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
Provides great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
Performs other duties as necessary.