Reporter

Postmedia Network Inc.; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 67,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Postmedia Network Inc. in Ottawa is seeking an experienced reporter to cover public safety and accountable journalism for the Ottawa Citizen/Sun newsroom.

You will investigate major crime, violence, homelessness, and environmental emergencies while overseeing coverage across four police forces and related public institutions. Join a collaborative team and build deep sources, trawl public data, and fact-check statements to illuminate issues and propose solutions for the community.

Qualifications

• Degree in journalism or equivalent professional reporting experience.
• Experience with crime, justice, data and investigative reporting.
• Ability to research from traditional and non-traditional sources.
• Knowledge of FOI/ATI requests and public records databases.
• Understanding legal and ethical issues in watchdog reporting.

Responsibilities

• Produce enterprise stories, long investigations and quick-turn pieces on public safety in Ottawa.
• Bolster breaking news coverage of serious crime and emergencies with new angles.
• Analyse and decipher publicly available documents and data.
• Build and maintain sources within police services, government institutions and the community.
• Fact-check statements by key decision makers; collaborate on team projects.

Skills

Investigative reporting

Source development

Data analysis

Public records FOI

Legal/ethics watchdog

Digital storytelling

Education

Journalism degree

5+ years newsroom

Job description

Position: Reporter

Position Type: Full-time, Permanent (Existing Vacancy)

Location: Ottawa, ON

Division: Postmedia Editorial Department

The Company:

Postmedia is a Canadian news media company representing more than 110 brands across print, digital and mobile platforms. Our award‑winning journalists and innovative product teams deliver engaging content to millions of people each week.

The Ottawa Citizen/Sun newsroom is the largest in the city, where your colleagues are offering committed, supportive and professional, and you have opportunities for mentorship and career development.

The Opportunity:

The Ottawa Citizen/Sun is seeking a driven, experienced reporter to cover public safety in Canada’s capital city. They will tackle systemic issues that are impacting daily life in Ottawa, including major crime, homicides, violence, opioid use, homelessness, issues affecting vulnerable populations, unsafe roads for pedestrians and drivers, environmental emergencies and more.

Their beat will also include watchdog coverage of Ottawa’s four intersecting police forces: the Ottawa Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Parliamentary Protective Service, and the RCMP.

Their reporting mission is to hold power to account by uncovering systemic issues, investigating operations and decisions that affect the region and scrutinizing how public tax dollars are being spent to improve public safety.

They will develop a solutions journalism method when telling stories about complex social issues, to not just shine a light on problems, but illuminate ways forward.

The successful candidate is a tenacious journalist with keen investigative instincts and the ability to find stories others miss. They will be the eyes and ears of the public, trawling public data, developing deep sources, and fact-checking information the public is being provided.

They will work collaboratively alongside the Citizen team of reporters, digital editors, photographers and editors to produce impactful accountability journalism that builds public trust, strengthens transparency and meaningfully contributes to the Ottawa Citizen’s mission.

What You’ll Do:

• Produce a mix of enterprise stories, long‑form investigations, and quick‑turn pieces that hold decision‑makers to account in all areas that impact the public safety of the citizens of Ottawa
• Bolster breaking news coverage of serious crime and emergencies by investigating those involved and finding new angles;
• Analyse and decipher publicly available documents and data;
• Build and maintain sources withinpolice services, government institutions and the local community;
• Fact-check statements and claims made by key decision makers; and
• Work collaboratively on ambitious and innovative team projects.

Who You Are:

• A degree in journalism or equivalent professional reporting experience;
• More than five years of experience in a major newsroom with exposure to crime; justice, data, and investigative reporting;
• Experience researching and collecting information from both traditional and non-traditional sources;
• A strong understanding of police systems, government structures, public recordsdatabases and FOI/ATI requests;
• A clear understanding of legal and ethical issues involved in watchdog reporting; and
• Enthusiasm for experimenting with emerging digital storytelling tools and platforms

Compensation:

Employment offers presented to the selected candidate are based on a combination of qualifications, experience, responsibilities of the role and the candidate's location.

Base Salary: $66,682.2—$73,928.92

This is a unionized position subject to the terms and conditions of the collective agreement. The starting salary listed in this job posting is based on the Year 2 to Year 4 rate outlined in the collective agreement. Offers will be made based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.