Reporter - Food, Culture & Health

Lee Enterprises•Munster, IN

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Times of Northwest Indiana is looking for an energetic, enterprising multimedia reporter to cover the flavors, personalities and health innovations shaping one of the Midwest’s most distinctive regions. Video and solid news writing are both central to this role, and video isn't just an afterthought. The successful candidate will be eager to shoot and produce engaging video, conduct on-camera interviews and appear in front of the camera to guide audiences through the story. Whether touring a restaurant kitchen, sampling festival food or explaining new medical technology, this reporter should be excited to create journalism people will watch, share and discuss. Northwest Indiana is a bustling market just south of Chicago, where generations of immigrant traditions meet an exciting restaurant and nightlife scene. It’s a place of neighborhood institutions, ambitious new eateries, distilleries, craft breweries, cocktail bars and major celebrations built around food—including the nationally known Pierogi Fest. The Region is also home to major hospitals, healthcare companies, nonprofit organizations and medical professionals working on some of today’s most consequential health issues. We need a versatile journalist who can bring all of those stories to life across platforms. One day, you might profile a local celebrity chef, introduce audiences to a restaurant generating buzz or explore the cultural history behind a beloved regional dish. The next, you could interview a hospital CEO, examine the business forces reshaping healthcare or explain how physicians are using cutting-edge technology to improve patient care. The ideal candidate will be curious, nimble and equally comfortable in a busy restaurant kitchen, at a neighborhood festival, in a corporate boardroom or inside a hospital research center. This reporter should know how to find compelling people, ask smart questions and turn complex subjects into clear, engaging journalism. We’re seeking someone who can balance lively features and service journalism with authoritative enterprise reporting. You’ll cover successful businesses and emerging trends, but you’ll also look beyond the obvious—examining how food reflects Northwest Indiana’s identity, how access and affordability affect community health, and how decisions made by major institutions shape residents’ lives. Strong writing, sound news judgment, video skills and an understanding of how to engage audiences on social media are essential. Experience covering food, culture, business, medicine or public health is preferred, but ambition, versatility and a strong portfolio matter most. Photography and data-reporting skills are major assets. This is an opportunity to own a dynamic beat in a region packed with unforgettable characters, rich traditions and important stories. You’ll join a newsroom committed to distinctive local journalism that informs, delights and makes a difference. To apply, submit a résumé, cover letter and work samples demonstrating your range, voice, video abilities and talent for connecting with a diverse audience.

Requirements

Energetic, enterprising multimedia reporter.
Proficiency in video shooting and production.
Strong news writing skills.
Ability to conduct on-camera interviews.
Comfort appearing on camera.
Curiosity and nimbleness.
Ability to work in various environments (restaurant kitchen, festival, boardroom, hospital research center).
Ability to find compelling people and ask smart questions.
Ability to turn complex subjects into clear, engaging journalism.
Ability to balance features, service journalism, and enterprise reporting.
Strong writing skills.
Sound news judgment.
Video skills.
Understanding of how to engage audiences on social media.

Nice To Haves

Experience covering food, culture, business, medicine or public health.
Ambition, versatility, and a strong portfolio.
Photography skills.
Data-reporting skills.

Responsibilities

Cover the flavors, personalities and health innovations shaping Northwest Indiana.
Shoot and produce engaging video.
Conduct on-camera interviews.
Appear in front of the camera to guide audiences through the story.
Profile local celebrity chefs.
Introduce audiences to restaurants generating buzz.
Explore the cultural history behind regional dishes.
Interview hospital CEOs.
Examine business forces reshaping healthcare.
Explain how physicians are using cutting-edge technology to improve patient care.
Find compelling people and ask smart questions.
Turn complex subjects into clear, engaging journalism.
Balance lively features and service journalism with authoritative enterprise reporting.
Cover successful businesses and emerging trends.
Examine how food reflects Northwest Indiana’s identity.
Examine how access and affordability affect community health.
Examine how decisions made by major institutions shape residents’ lives.
Engage audiences on social media.