Reporter - Community Insight Jackson

Advance Media•Jackson, MI

11d•$55,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

MLive seeks a news reporter to cover government and business development in Jackson County. The ideal candidate will be able to write sharp stories and strong video scripts, produce social media videos (like TikTok) when appropriate, and conduct in-depth enterprise work to help readers understand their community. This role requires a reporter who can generate story ideas not solely from officials or institutions, but by actively listening to community discussions and transforming that curiosity into valuable, trustworthy journalism. The reporter will use social monitoring tools, search trends, public information feeds, meeting agendas, and community conversations to stay informed about daily news and identify key questions readers need answered. The role involves moving quickly from listening to reporting, producing timely updates and explainers, making calls, engaging with the community, and advancing stories that are already topics of discussion, rather than just following institutional narratives. Candidates should also be comfortable using AI responsibly as a tool for efficiency, idea generation, context building, and deeper reporting on significant topics.

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 government and business development in Jackson 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 that 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 and identify the questions readers most need answered.
Move quickly from listening to reporting: producing timely updates and explainers, making calls, getting into the community and advancing 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, including ideas surfaced through reader questions, social conversation, search trends and public records.
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.
Work at a high tempo, balancing fast, accurate daily updates with enterprise, accountability and explanatory stories that build reader trust and habit.
Work independently and remotely, as well as in the MLive office.
Meet with sources or cover events using reliable transportation.