Public Safety Reporter at Gannett in Bremerton, Washington

Job Description:

The Kitsap Sun/ kitsapsun.com newsroom in Bremerton, Washington, seeks a reporter with a deep interest in how communities find solutions to public safety needs. This reporter strives to serve the needs of the people most affected by crime and highlights the solutions and challenges they face.

Breaking news, crime and courts are part of the beat, but we want to cover policing and criminal justice through a lens of accountability in a manner that helps the entire community confront issues of safety and work toward solutions.

A good way to think of this reporter's approach most days is determining how to make local news coverage more three-dimensional in our exploration of public safety threats and concerns and of the community's response to these. This is people-centered, community-based coverage that delivers relevance, context and useful information to all readers. The reporter should feel as comfortable working with the community as they do talking with law enforcement, developing key sources with agencies, and making their way around a courthouse. Understanding how to use data and trends to illustrate or unearth issues, and a focus on quality storytelling, are also key. And it is vital the reporter develops law-enforcement sources and builds trust in city, county, local and state policing organizations.

This journalist will also be involved in other general breaking news or topics as needed.We are a small, tightly knit newsroom covering an engaged community, and collaboration across our team in serving our readers is an important part of our culture. No reporter is only following a single beat. Every story you write won't be about crime, because we think that's important to grow community connections and knowledge as well.

The job is based in a newsroom in downtown Bremerton, Washington, and reports on the communities that make up Kitsap County, a peninsula with a population of nearly 275,000 people across Puget Sound from downtown Seattle. Some remote work is acceptable.

An ideal candidate is someone capable of quickly establishing their voice and building a loyal following on Instagram and other social media channels.

Key Considerations:

• Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.
• Experience with social media, including Instagram Stories, as a tool to build audience and as a source for beat development.
• Knowledge of data-based reporting and use of spreadsheets such as Excel.
• Experience with and interest in multimedia, including video and podcasting.
• A self-starter who owns the beat yet works collaboratively with others locally and regionally to meet common goals.
• A journalist committed to values of fairness, diversity, inclusion and professionalism.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• At least two years of applicable experience as a reporter/writer.
• Proven experience with content management systems and social media channels.
• Good time management and organizational skills.

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:

Your resume - one to two pages

A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job

Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you've written, 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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