Kentucky Connect Trending Reporter

USA Today • Louisville, KY

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a Trending Reporter to join its service journalism and trending team. This role focuses on timely, audience-centered coverage in metro Louisville and Kentucky, including surrounding areas. The ideal candidate is quick, flexible, and brimming with topic-focused story ideas, capable of pursuing and writing them rapidly in various formats. A deep curiosity, competitive spirit, and a drive to inform digital audiences are essential. The reporter will collaborate with local and national editors and reporters across the USA TODAY Network, seamlessly transitioning between topics relevant to the city and state. Strong digital headline-writing skills are a must. The reporter will work with Courier Journal staff to cover high-interest stories, assist with breaking news, and plan for major events. Comfort with social media, digital communities, and on-camera presence is required. The role involves using data, analytics, Google Trends, and SEO tools to guide story selection and presentation. The reporter must excel at fast-paced storytelling with accuracy, whether for immediate needs or in-depth features. A requirement for this position is living in metro Louisville or the surrounding area, with a strong familiarity with the city, Kentucky, its culture, events, and interests.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication or equivalent work experience and education.
• Able to work some evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Expert at using social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Reddit and Bluesky.
• Command of concise writing, spelling, grammar and AP style.
• Good fact-checking and reporting skills.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented and flexible.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Living in metro Louisville or the area and having great familiarity with the city, Kentucky as a whole, its culture, major events and top interests, are required.
• Great digital headline-writing skills are a must.
• Comfortable on camera is a must.

Responsibilities

• Monitor emails, 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 Kentucky residents and people who work there.
• Efficiently and accurately write stories, 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.
• Create video using an array of tools to deliver trending and breaking news across platforms in real time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level