Reporter
THE COMPANY
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the first edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and Pflugerville. Now, Community Impact Newspaper distributes hyperlocal news and information to millions of local residents and business owners each day online and monthly by mail. Community Impact Newspaper is invested in the communities we serve and has dedicated reporters in each community who attend city council and school board meetings. We are among the first to report on local business, transportation, education, and health care. Our staff serve on chamber boards, volunteer with nonprofits, and are involved in our communities to make them better places to live and work. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team.
THE POSITION
We are seeking a hands-on, hard-working, detail-oriented professional to join our team making a difference in our community. The Reporter helps deliver local print and digital content to our readers. This individual provides coverage of stories from within– and sometimes outside of– the community they serve. This involves collecting information, interviewing individuals, developing relationships with sources, and writing accurate, intelligent, and engaging stories. A reporter’s most important task is making the public aware of local events and issues that affect their lives.
JOB DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Generate original story ideas and present them at internal planning meetings
- Interview news sources in person (or occasionally from the desk) from a variety of perspectives to ensure accurate reporting
- Produce original, engaging, and informative content for our monthly print and daily digital editions, as well as our social media
- Develop, maintain, and grow a network of news sources and community contacts
- Investigate, analyze, and interpret newsworthy events taking place within and outside of the assigned community by attending city council meetings, school board meetings, commissioners court meetings, and other community events
- Analyze data and collaborate with our graphic designers to create complex, multilayered infographics and sidebars
- Follow digital analytics to track audience engagement
- Engage with readers via digital outlets on an as-needed basis
- Represent Community Impact Newspaper in a positive and professional manner, and exercise discretion in how and where to promote the company to readers, community leaders, news sources, and the general public
- Ensure our readers get the highest-quality news by adhering to Community Impact Newspaper’s editorial stylebook and AP style guidelines, checking art and text for consistency, and completing all writing within established deadlines
TEAM MEMBER EXPECTATIONS
We have high expectations of our team and expect every team member to possess and demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Positive attitude and a strong work ethic
- Hold true to our core values: Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation, and Integrity
- The genuine desire to achieve your very best and improve everyday
- The initiative to identify opportunities for organizational improvement and the drive to take action and ownership in helping the organization succeed both by contributing individually and working together as a team
In addition to general team member expectations, this role specifically requires the following:
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, or related coursework
- At least one (1) year of full-time experience with print or digital publication(s)
- Valid driver’s license, motorist insurance, and own transportation
- Experience in interviewing and writing
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills
- Expert knowledge of AP style
- Ability to pass the Company's writing test
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with photography
- Experience with digital content management systems such as WordPress
- Experience producing multimedia content, such as slideshows, videos, interactive infographics and alt-format stories
- Experience with public speaking and presentations
- Proficiency with social media applications, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
- Familiarity with Adobe InCopy and Microsoft suite
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
We offer a competitive and attractive package of compensation and benefits including health insurance, 401(k) plan, paid vacation, sick pay, and holidays.
The "community" in Community Impact Newspapers represents you. As an organization that reflects the people and businesses we serve, we hold diversity & inclusion principles to be extremely important to our mission and values. Employment decisions made at Community Impact Newspapers are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics; instead, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.