Middletown Public Service Reporter at Gannett in Middletown, New York

Job Description:

The Middletown Times-Herald Record / recordonline.com seeks an energetic and thoughtful public service reporter, based in Middletown, who will immerse themselves in the community and build relationships with first-hand sources so they can answer the key questions that influence residents' daily lives.

This reporter will focus on how local governmental decisions impact area residents and will explore the local development scene, including commercial, retail and housing, to identify and analyze the key forces shaping the growing community.

T he reporter will cover both failures and successes, and deliver unique, essential reporting, and become a must-follow source for what is happening in these communities, particularly those who have historically been underrepresented.

This reporter will pursue some news du jour from local government and school entities. When a decision or trend is truly significant in terms of public impact, this reporter will seek angles answering "Who?"," How?" and "Why?"

Instead of stories that focus on inner-government workings, this journalist will provide people-centered, community-centered reporting. Success comes through unique and distinctive reporting or helpful FAQ stories that answer readers' questions and help them with actionable insight so they can live smarter and make better choices.

Data skills are considered a key element of this role and the reporter should feel comfortable scanning and sorting an Excel spreadsheet or filing FOIA requests.

This role requires a keen sense of meeting our current and future audience where they're at - building connections through social media platforms, at in-person community events or school board meetings. With robust sourcing, this reporter will identify problems and steer readers toward solutions, while also ensuring public transparency and accountability.

The best candidate can pivot quickly between breaking stories, quick-turn and long-range enterprise, and will deliver strong content through a variety of storytelling forms, including visuals, lists, explainers and social media.

Based in Middletown, t he journalist will also be involved in general breaking news as needed, including crime and public safety reporting , and assist in news throughout the Hudson Valley of New York. Coverage could include news stories outside of Orange County and the surrounding areas, as well as assisting with our USA TODAY Network news partners .

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.

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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The hourly rate for this role will range between $12.55 and $29.30. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable.
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