Reporter

USA TODAY Co.

22h • $16 - $34 • Remote

About The Position

The USA TODAY Network is looking for a New England Connect reporter to join our service journalism and trending Connect team. This reporter will provide timely and audience-focused coverage in every New England state, with a particular focus on video storytelling. We are looking for a reporter who is quick and flexible — full of topic-focused story ideas, who can urgently pursue them and create videos and articles at volume to meet readers where they are. This reporter should be deeply curious, highly competitive and possess the desire to inform digital audiences. The reporter should be comfortable working with local and national editors and reporters across the USA TODAY Network, and able to seamlessly move among topics. Your pitch starts with the headline, so great digital headline-writing skills are a must. The reporter will work alongside our USA TODAY Network New England sites or the network Connect editors and content strategists to cover high-interest stories, help swarm breaking news and plan for major events. The position covers all of New England, but is particularly focused on Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This reporter should be comfortable interacting with and listening to social media and other digital communities. They will use data and analytics, and Google Trends and other SEO tools to inform their story choices and presentation on and off our platforms. This reporter must love telling stories quickly when needed, in-depth when called for, and always with accuracy. They need to be comfortable working with AI tools to enhance our news coverage and be able to work quickly. They need to live in New England or have deep familiarity with the state and the interests of its communities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism or related field or equivalent combination or education and experience
• Expert at using social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Threads and Bluesky.
• Candidates should have facility with AI and automation and experience in using it to enhance their journalism
• Command of concise writing, spelling, grammar, and AP style.
• Good fact-checking and reporting skill
• Well-organized, detail-oriented and flexible.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Must live in New England or have deep familiarity with the state and the interests of its communities.

Nice To Haves

• Deeply curious, highly competitive and possess the desire to inform digital audiences.
• Comfortable working with local and national editors and reporters across the USA TODAY Network, and able to seamlessly move among topics.
• Great digital headline-writing skills are a must.
• Comfortable interacting with and listening to social media and other digital communities.
• Use data and analytics, and Google Trends and other SEO tools to inform their story choices and presentation on and off our platforms.
• Love telling stories quickly when needed, in-depth when called for, and always with accuracy.
• Comfortable working with AI tools to enhance our news coverage and be able to work quickly.

Responsibilities

• Monitor email, social media, community groups and other sources to find stories.
• Monitor developing stories across news, social and other media platforms for key topics important to New Englanders
• Efficiently and accurately create stories and videos, several per day.
• Find, pitch and swiftly produce stories on topics of emerging interest, with a focus on what readers want and need to know.
• Ensure content is properly optimized for competitive search ranking and best practices for user experience.

Benefits

• The hourly rate for this role will range between $16.44 and $33.65.
• USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce.
• USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree