Suburban Growth & Accountability Reporter (UNION)

USA Today•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch.com seeks a versatile watchdog reporter to cover assigned suburban communities in a highly competitive, fast-paced news environment. We are looking for a journalist who is comfortable with text and video coverage of quick-hit breaking news, service journalism and ambitious enterprise. The best candidate has a deep curiosity and unrelenting commitment to get to the bottom of an issue, hold individuals and institutions accountable, and identify solutions. They also should be comfortable authoring a newsletter highlighting their suburban coverage and being a face and brand readers are eager to engage with in their assigned area. This reporter will be attuned to the community and have a feel for the local buzz. They will infiltrate social media and develop a deep source roster so they can uncover and break exclusive, impactful stories about the topics and issues that matter most to our audience. In this fast-growing area, growth and development, data centers, economic and social disparity, affordable housing, and traffic are among key coverage topics. We expect that that this reporter will recognize compelling, shareable stories and will be quick to jump on them and consistently that makes a difference and helps retain and grow audience. The best applicant will have experience with public records and be able to quickly unravel complex and controversial issues. They also should be able to author newsletters for readers. This job is best suited for a journalist who can break down issues, politics, and government actions into digestible, to-the-point stories and use audience metrics to guide coverage decisions to stories that readers, viewers and listeners are interested in. Versatility is essential, as coverage will stretch from stories about proposed new developments to the needs of a city's most vulnerable residents to city council races to service journalism about 10 new road projects to look for. You will be part of a collaborative team and expected to jump in on trending and breaking news and cover for colleagues as needed. There will be some weekend and night assignments.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Two years of reporting experience in a daily newsroom.
Strong communication skills.
Strong news judgment.
Strong headline-writing ability.
Strong interpersonal skills.
SEO skills.
Proficiency on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Threads and Instagram.
Experience engaging readers in public social media spaces.
Energetic self-starter and a fast thinker who can spot stories that matter.
Experience shooting and editing photos and video on an iPhone.
Experience using artificial intelligence to assist news gathering.
Ability to multitask and excel in a fast-paced environment under intense deadline pressure.
Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with a team of journalists.
Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills.
Knowledge of AP style.
Familiarity with using audience metrics to guide coverage.
Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
Experience with public records.

Responsibilities

Cover assigned suburban communities.
Provide text and video coverage of breaking news, service journalism, and enterprise stories.
Hold individuals and institutions accountable.
Identify solutions to issues.
Author newsletters highlighting suburban coverage.
Infiltrate social media and develop a deep source roster.
Uncover and break exclusive, impactful stories.
Recognize and jump on compelling, shareable stories.
Break down issues, politics, and government actions into digestible stories.
Use audience metrics to guide coverage decisions.
Jump in on trending and breaking news.
Cover for colleagues as needed.