Government & Politics Reporter at Gannett in Memphis, Tennessee

Job Description:

The Commercial Appeal/CommercialAppeal.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a reporter to cover government and politics in Memphis, with a focus on Memphis City Hall.

This reporter will cover government in a diverse and evolving community with long-standing racial and economic disparities. We're looking for a reporter who will go beyond standard public meeting coverage, digging into how and why things happen and examining the local levers of power and who is pulling them.

This beat requires proficiency with public records and the ability to develop an extensive source network. It is part of a two-person government accountability team that also takes the lead on election coverage.

A reporter in this role will also contribute to statewide and national stories from time to time, helping Memphians understand how state and national politics and policy impact their day-to-day lives.

The Commercial Appeal, the region's dominant news organization, is located in Memphis and covers a three-state metro area home to more than 1 million people. The area is a major logistics hub and is home to FedEx. In addition, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, International Paper and AutoZone are based in the city, and Elon Musk's xAI plans to open the world's largest supercomputer here later this year.

The entertainment and food scenes are unrivaled, and Beale Street is an iconic entertainment district. The city is also home to the NBA's Grizzlies and the University of Memphis, as well as USL Championship side 901FC and the Redbirds, the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

An intrepid politics and government reporter will touch on almost all of these interest areas at some point, as many of these entities partner with the city or receive public funding, and the city's business and sports titans mix with the power players at city hall.

Responsibilities for this role include:

• Reporting and writing stories that accurately inform, entertain and engage key audiences, with the guidance of metrics tools.
• Working to become the community's leading voice on government and political news.
• Promoting your personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand with integrity.
• Report quickly, clearly and accurately and deliver news, via stories, video, Facebook, X, Instagram or any other methods available to reach our audience and develop new audiences.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and shape beat strategies.
• Producing a mix of breaking, daily and enterprise stories on your own and in collaboration with other CA reporters.

Requirements and preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of writing/journalism/newsroom experience preferred.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and "publication-ready."
• Be passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• A desire to grow and develop a key beat in our newsroom.
• Is comfortable using social media such as X, Facebook and Instagram to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understand reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital-first mission.
• Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

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 to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
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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