Public Safety Reporter
About The Position
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Press Democrat seeks a motivated journalist to join our Public Safety reporting team. The Press Democrat is the flagship of the Press Democrat News Group. This position is based in Santa Rosa, California, an hour north of San Francisco, where vineyards give way to redwood forests and the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. The reporter in this role will cover local police and fire agencies, on the lookout for breaking news and emerging trends in public safety. The ideal candidate can write compelling headlines, is well-versed in SEO and can use available tools to engage readers. They must meet tight deadlines for breaking news and have a working knowledge of social media and digital reporting. A collaborative spirit and focus and a positive attitude are also a must for this role.
Requirements
- Two years of experience in daily journalism preferred; internships acceptable
- A college degree in journalism or an applicable field
- Working knowledge of social media
- Residency within the Greater North Bay, preferably Sonoma County
- 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
- 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
Responsibilities
- Monitor local public safety agencies for breaking, spot news and long-form stories
- Write stories daily; have multiple stories in progress at once, prioritizing for timeliness and relevance
- Assign photos to visual journalists when necessary
- Produce high-quality breaking news, explanatory, investigative and feature stories for our website and newspaper, which prints four days per week
- Efficiently track newsworthy crimes, court cases and emergencies such as significant car crashes and fires
- Work directly and collaboratively with editors and reporters on story ideas
- File stories on tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality
- Cultivate sources at all levels, from police and fire officials to advocacy groups, victims and people in the justice system
- Localize state and national public safety trends
- Use creative storytelling to present stories in unique ways that attract readers
Benefits
- medical
- dental
- life and disability insurance
- 401k
- paid time off
- select paid holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
