Video Reporter (Columbus Guild)

USA TODAY Co.•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch.com seeks a reporter to provide text and video coverage of a wide range of breaking and trending news, including afternoon and evening crime and public safety, traffic and weather developments, breaking news such as openings and closings, and high-interest topics of the day. The reporter will quickly identify and report timely, high-interest news and, whenever possible, be first in the market on major breaking stories. The role may involve writing multiple times per day while also shooting video and photos, and the reporter is expected to be among the newsroom’s top pageview producers. The reporter will create quick videos and photo galleries for almost every story and sometimes produce video-only content. The role requires core reporting skills, including accessing public records such as police reports and body-camera and surveillance video, building sources, conducting interviews, and finding, analyzing, and interpreting data. The reporter will use analytics, including Google Trends, and social channels to identify emerging topics and audience interests, and will request user-generated content from social platforms and other sources. Embracing artificial intelligence as a tool to improve reporting and efficiency is expected. The reporter will localize national and state stories for the audience and may work with other reporters and editors to create alternate URLs from existing stories. The reporter will occasionally work in the field on topics ranging from business openings and closings to major breaking news. The schedule includes working weeknights. Applicants are asked to submit one PDF containing, in order, a one- to two-page resume, a cover letter describing their approach to the job, and links to three to six online work samples.

Requirements

Fundamental reporting skills, including accessing public records, building sources, conducting interviews, and finding, analyzing, and interpreting data.
Ability to cover breaking and trending news quickly and produce multiple stories in a day as needed.
Ability to shoot video and photos and create quick videos and photo galleries.
Understanding of analytics, including Google Trends, and ability to use social channels to identify emerging topics and audience interests.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location.

Responsibilities

Provide text and video coverage of breaking and trending news, including crime and public safety, traffic and weather, openings and closings, and other high-interest topics.
Quickly identify and report timely, high-interest news, aiming to be first in the market on major breaking stories whenever possible.
Write multiple times per day when needed and shoot video and photos.
Create quick videos and photo galleries for almost every story, and sometimes produce video-only content.
Access public records, build sources, conduct interviews, and find, analyze, and interpret data.
Use analytics, including Google Trends, and social channels to identify emerging topics and audience interests.
Request user-generated content from social platforms and other sources.
Use artificial intelligence to improve reporting and efficiency.
Localize national and state stories for the audience.
Work with reporters and editors to create alternate URLs from existing stories when needed.
Occasionally report in the field on topics including business openings and closings and major breaking news.