Reporter - Community Insight Kalamazoo

Advance Media•Kalamazoo, MI

8d•$45,000 - $55,000•Hybrid

About The Position

MLive seeks a reporter to cover local news, including public safety and community issues, in Kalamazoo County. The ideal candidate will be adept at writing sharp stories and strong video scripts, producing social media videos (like TikToks), and conducting in-depth enterprise work to help readers understand their community. This role emphasizes generating story ideas from community buzz rather than solely relying on officials or institutions, and transforming that curiosity into useful, trusted journalism. The position involves using social monitoring tools, search trends, public information feeds, meeting agendas, and community conversations to identify key questions readers need answered. The reporter will produce timely updates and explainers, conduct interviews, engage with the community, and advance stories that are already being discussed, moving beyond institutional narratives. Responsible use of AI as a tool for idea generation, context building, and deeper reporting is also expected.

Requirements

A degree in journalism, communications or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
At least one year of professional journalism experience with a demonstrated ability to produce clear, compelling and accurate reporting.
Ability to identify, verify and develop important stories that resonate with everyday residents, including ideas surfaced through reader questions, social conversation, search trends and public records.
Comfort appearing on camera and producing short, engaging social videos that bring reporting to wider audiences.
Digital fluency and audience focus, including an understanding of where local residents are talking, what they are asking and how to turn that curiosity into useful, repeatable coverage formats.
Comfort working at a high tempo, balancing fast, accurate daily updates with enterprise, accountability and explanatory stories that build reader trust and habit.
Ability to work independently and remotely, as well as in the MLive office.
This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.

Responsibilities

Cover local news, including public safety and community issues, in Kalamazoo County.
Write sharp stories and strong video scripts.
Produce TikTok or other social videos when the story calls for it.
Dig into longer enterprise work that helps readers understand their community.
Listen closely to the buzz in the community and turn curiosity into useful, trusted journalism.
Use social monitoring tools, search trends, public information feeds, meeting agendas, and community conversations to stay on top of daily news.
Identify the questions readers most need answered.
Produce timely updates and explainers.
Make calls, get into the community, and advance stories people are already talking about.
Use AI responsibly as a tool to work smarter, surface story ideas, build context, and go deeper on important topics.
Identify, verify, and develop important stories that resonate with everyday residents.
Prioritize accountability and service journalism by filing FOIAs, building a strong and varied source network, asking rigorous questions, and explaining how local decisions affect daily life.
Appear on camera and produce short, engaging social videos that bring reporting to wider audiences.
Understand where local residents are talking, what they are asking, and how to turn that curiosity into useful, repeatable coverage formats.
Balance fast, accurate daily updates with enterprise, accountability, and explanatory stories.
Work independently and remotely, as well as in the MLive office.
Meet with sources or cover events, requiring reliable transportation.