Reporter

Postmedia Network Inc.•Ottawa, ON

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ottawa Citizen/Sun is seeking a driven, experienced reporter to cover public safety in Canada’s capital city. They will tackle systemic issues that are impacting daily life in Ottawa, including major crime, homicides, violence, opioid use, homelessness, issues affecting vulnerable populations, unsafe roads for pedestrians and drivers, environmental emergencies and more. Their beat will also include watchdog coverage of Ottawa’s four intersecting police forces: the Ottawa Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Parliamentary Protective Service, and the RCMP. Their reporting mission is to hold power to account by uncovering systemic issues, investigating operations and decisions that affect the region and scrutinizing how public tax dollars are being spent to improve public safety. They will develop a solutions journalism method when telling stories about complex social issues, to not just shine a light on problems, but illuminate ways forward. The successful candidate is a tenacious journalist with keen investigative instincts and the ability to find stories others miss. They will be the eyes and ears of the public, trawling public data, developing deep sources, and fact-checking information the public is being provided. They will work collaboratively alongside the Citizen team of reporters, digital editors, photographers and editors to produce impactful accountability journalism that builds public trust, strengthens transparency and meaningfully contributes to the Ottawa Citizen’s mission.

Requirements

A degree in journalism or equivalent professional reporting experience
More than five years of experience in a major newsroom with exposure to crime, justice, data, and investigative reporting
Experience researching and collecting information from both traditional and non-traditional sources
A strong understanding of police systems, government structures, public records databases and FOI/ATI requests
A clear understanding of legal and ethical issues involved in watchdog reporting
Enthusiasm for experimenting with emerging digital storytelling tools and platforms

Responsibilities

Produce a mix of enterprise stories, long-form investigations, and quick-turn pieces that hold decision-makers to account in all areas that impact the public safety of the citizens of Ottawa
Bolster breaking news coverage of serious crime and emergencies by investigating those involved and finding new angles
Analyse and decipher publicly available documents and data
Build and maintain sources within police services, government institutions and the local community
Fact-check statements and claims made by key decision makers
Work collaboratively on ambitious and innovative team projects