Job Description 

Summary/objective

Cover news events, write stories, shoot photos and videos. Go beyond meetings to find stories the community needs to know. Produce creative stories – both news and features. Understand that good news reporting starts with good reporting. Maintaining accuracy and ethical standards is essential in all aspects of the job.

Essential functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Complete assignments and evaluate leads and tips to produce original and timely news stories for print, online and social media.
• Gather and verify factual information regarding news stories through interviews, observation and research.
• Produce timely online stories and then follow with more in-depth stories for print.
• Build relationships with sources including public officials, administrators, researchers, organizers, public information officers and other newsmakers.
• Monitor social media and other publications for story ideas. Look for state, national and world news events that can be localized.
• Pitch story ideas.
• Take photographs and shoot videos to illustrate stories. Create digital and social media posts.
• Identify and swiftly respond to breaking news with strong reporting and writing skills that show a commitment to fairness and accuracy. 
• Produce sharp and artfully written enterprise pieces that will appeal to a wide range of readers. 
• Work collaboratively with reporters and editors across the newsroom and at other APG newspapers.
• Make assigned deadlines. If a deadline may be missed, notify an editor as early as possible.
• Produce at least eight to 10 stories per week unless negotiated otherwise with editor.
• Notify editor of potential violations of open meeting laws.   
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Firm grasp of grammar, spelling and writing styles.  
• Thorough knowledge of Associated Press style.
• Ability to work under pressure and to handle the stress of daily deadlines.
• Ability to produce clean and accurate copy.
• Ability to conduct interviews to generate sufficient information to produce a complete story.

Supervisory responsibilities

•  No supervisory responsibilities.

Work environment

• Ability to work with others in newsroom.
• Ability to cover news events in all types of weather. 
• This is an in-person, in-office job, includes covering meetings in-person.

Physical demands

• Ability to lift and carry a laptop case and camera bag.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to type on a laptop or computer keyboard.

Mental Competencies

• Ability to listen at meetings and during interviews.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback and learn from it.

Travel required

• Must have a reliable car, a clean driving record and valid driver's license
• Travel to meetings and story assignments. 

Required education and experience

• College degree or equivalent experience.
• Previous writing for a publication. College newspaper experience accepted.

Preferred education and experience

• Journalism degree.
• One-year experience writing at a newspaper.
• Experience with data journalism, court reporting and Freedom of Information Act requests.

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

We are proudly an equal opportunity employer. Equal opportunity and consideration are afforded to all qualified applicants and Associates. We won’t unlawfully discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, Veteran status, sexual orientation, and any other category protected by law. We are also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.