Reporter - Food, Culture & Health

Lee Enterprises•Munster, IN

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Times of Northwest Indiana is seeking an energetic, enterprising multimedia reporter to cover the food, culture, and health landscape of Northwest Indiana. This role requires strong video and news writing skills, with an emphasis on shooting and producing engaging video content, conducting on-camera interviews, and appearing on camera to present stories. The reporter will cover a diverse range of topics, from the region's vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene, including immigrant traditions and food-centric celebrations, to its significant healthcare institutions and medical innovations. The ideal candidate will be versatile, curious, and nimble, capable of profiling chefs, exploring cultural histories of food, interviewing hospital CEOs, examining healthcare business forces, and explaining medical technology. The role involves balancing feature and service journalism with enterprise reporting, looking beyond the obvious to explore how food reflects identity, how access and affordability impact health, and how institutional decisions affect residents' lives. Strong writing, news judgment, video skills, and social media engagement are essential. Experience in food, culture, business, medicine, or public health is preferred, but ambition, versatility, and a strong portfolio are paramount. Photography and data-reporting skills are considered major assets. This is an opportunity to own a dynamic beat in a region rich with characters, traditions, and important stories, joining a newsroom dedicated to distinctive local journalism.

Requirements

Energetic, enterprising multimedia reporter.
Strong news writing skills.
Strong video skills.
Ability to shoot and produce engaging video.
Ability to conduct on-camera interviews.
Ability to appear on camera to guide audiences through stories.
Curious, nimble, and comfortable 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.
Strong writing.
Sound news judgment.
Understanding of how to engage audiences on social media.
Ambition, versatility, and a strong portfolio.

Nice To Haves

Experience covering food, culture, business, medicine, or public health.
Photography skills.
Data-reporting skills.

Responsibilities

Cover the flavors, personalities, and health innovations shaping Northwest Indiana.
Shoot and produce engaging video content.
Conduct on-camera interviews and appear on camera to guide audiences through stories.
Profile local celebrity chefs, introduce buzzing restaurants, and explore the cultural history behind regional dishes.
Interview hospital CEOs, examine business forces reshaping healthcare, and explain how physicians use cutting-edge technology.
Balance lively features and service journalism with authoritative enterprise reporting.
Examine how food reflects Northwest Indiana’s identity.
Investigate how access and affordability affect community health.
Analyze how decisions made by major institutions shape residents’ lives.
Engage audiences on social media.