Politics/General Assignment Reporter at Gannett in West Palm Beach, Florida

Job Description:

The Palm Beach Post/palmbeachpo st .com part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a versatile and energetic person for our politics/general assignment reporter position. We're looking for someone who will aggressively break news and produce enterprise and watchdog content on one of the most dynamic and high-profile political arenas in the nation, while also being able to pivot to cover high-interest general assignments when needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This reporter will immediately jump into the 2024 pressure-cooker election, including covering Donald Trump, the Palm Beach County resident, former president and presumptive Republican White House nominee.
• Responsibilities also will include assisting with coverage of the state's senatorial contest with incumbent Rick Scott, who has openly stated his intention to seek the GOP leadership post in the U.S. Senate, and Marco Rubio, who's rumored to be either Trump's vice president selection or, if Trump is elected, in his administration.
• From Nov. 5 on, the stakes only get higher. Should Trump win, this reporter would have a front row seat to history covering Trump's returns to his Mar-a-Lago home, dubbed the Southern White House during his prior time as president. If he should not, the expectation is this beat will be involved in coverage of his potential federal trial in the classified documents case, an effort to construct a presidential library in South Florida and his remaining influence in politics, to his ultimate obituary. That does not even mention the attention that the former first lady Melania Trump attracts, as well as his family (Ivana, Don Jr., Eric, Lara Trump, and Baron Trump).
• The beat also will include coverage of congressional lawmakers and state legislators, plus ancillary political organizations, not least of which is the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office.
• Many of the political stories you report will run statewide among our many fellow Gannett Florida newsrooms and at times nationally as part of USA Today's political coverage.
• This reporter will have a digital-first mindset that can pivot between deep enterprise pieces to smartly crafted listicles and, occasionally, other alternate story forms.
• We're looking for someone with strong headline writing skills informed by our SEO training. They will use metrics and analytics to determine how to best reach and grow the audience.
• The reporter will cultivate an engaging, active and inclusive social-media presence on various platforms.
• The reporter will coordinate with our visuals team but should have basic photo and video skills.
• They must communicate effectively with editors and fellow reporters in the newsroom.
• They also will pitch in on breaking/trending news and general assignments as needed.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Increase digital audience and engagement and grow digital subscriptions.
• Be a team player who likes to collaborate with coworkers.
• Apply innovative, creative thinking to support the company's goals.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS:

• Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.
• Experience with social media as a tool to build audience and as a source for beat development.
• 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 five years' experience as a reporter/writer.
• Proven experience with content management systems and social media channels.
• Good time management and organizational skills.
• Driver's license and a car.

HOW TO APPLY:

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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