Ultimate Arizona Reporter
Gannett Co.
Phoenix, AZ
To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com
Ultimate Arizona Reporter
The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a digital-first features reporter to cover all things weird, wacky and wonderful in Arizona – the events, people, creatures, viral moments, things to do, one-of-a kind experiences and stunning destinations. In other words, what makes Arizona, well, Arizona.
This reporter will closely monitor what’s happening in Arizona; build connections in the community; and become familiar with digital tools like Dataminr, Searchlight Conductor and Google Trends to become the go-to source for news about events, the outdoors and things to do.
This reporter will track Arizona trends, developments and issues at the local and national level to produce a combination of breaking news, daily enterprise, longform, multi-sourced stories and multimedia projects in a fast-paced, competitive, 24/7 news cycle.
This reporter will have a strong grasp on how to best use SEO, social media platforms, digital and production tools and public records.
This role offers the opportunity to develop mini beats on topics unique to Arizona, from hiking and camping to street art and viral moments. If you are passionate about it, there may be room to write about it.
Candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish are preferred.
Responsibilities:
- Cultivate a beat focused on all things uniquely Arizona, with a focus on events, the outdoors, wildlife, things to do and local personalities.
- Break essential Arizona news.
- Report quick-turn, enterprise and in-the-moment stories and traditional long-form features.
- Demonstrate strong news judgment informed by real-world experience.
- Bring fresh ideas about how to best deliver audience-centered coverage of the best Arizona has to offer to editorial meetings.
- Engage with new audiences through stories that cover traditionally underrepresented communities in the Valley.
- Provide cogent analysis of trends and issues.
- Report quickly, clearly and accurately.
- Use metrics to inform story choices and shape beat strategies.
- Identify top news stories of the day, based on analytics and audience potential.
- Write and/or produce multimedia content that appeals to key audience targets and maximizes user experience on digital and social platforms.
- Work closely with graphic, photo and video teams to collaborate on visual elements of stories.
- Appear in videos, Facebook/Instagram livestreams and podcasts, as needed.
- Engage with readers through various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
Knowledge and skills:
- Strong command of AP grammar and style.
- Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce breaking news and long-form content that is clean, accurate and publication ready.
- Comfort and familiarity with using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to enhance reporting and promote stories.
- Established understanding of media ethics and sourcing.
- Passion and enthusiasm for food and restaurant content that will resonate with audiences on search and social platforms.
- A desire to grow and develop a key beat in our newsroom.
- Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
- Ability to excel in a fast-paced news environment with a digital-first mission.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of writing/journalism/newsroom experience.
- Must have required skills including social media, advanced storytelling, analytical ability, interpersonal skills, time management.
- This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
- Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check, motor vehicle record check and drug screen.
Application Instructions:
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume. Show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
1. Your resume – one page.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job, with 2-3 pitches for stories or series you’d like to write if hired.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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