Coloradoan Reporter

USA TODAY Co., Inc.; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

USA TODAY Co., Inc. seeks a swift breaking news reporter for The Coloradoan, covering multiple topics on multiple mediums. The role requires the ability to quickly publish across mobile, desktop and social platforms, with strong video production skills and familiarity with social platforms.

The candidate will localize national/state stories for the audience, work with editors, and contribute to quick video/story formats. Flexibility for weekends and varied shifts is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2-3 years’ digital journalism experience, preferred.
• Able to file quickly across platforms: mobile, desktop and social media.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and publication ready.
• Passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• Understand reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excel in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital first mission.
• Collaborate well with others and can work with a team, including remote teammates.
• Open to off-typical schedules, including early mornings, late nights and/or weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Write quickly and clearly with voice.
• Deliver news via stories, video, newsletters and social channels.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and beat strategies, including SEO.
• Identify top stories of the day based on analytics and audience potential.
• Work with editors to experiment with new ways of informing and engaging audiences on social platforms.
• Self-starter who can lead on new coverage areas and ambitious projects.

Skills

AP style

SEO

Video production

Social media

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in communications or journalism

Tools

Video editing tools

Job description

|Current USA TODAY Co. Employees- Please ensure you are using our abbreviated process on the internal Careers site by logging into Dayforce through MyApps|

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions.

USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. If you are a California resident, you acknowledge that by applying for a job with us, this California Job Applicant Privacy Notice will apply to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com

The Coloradoan seeks a talented journalist capable of covering multiple topics on multiple mediums. We seek someone nimble enough to cover a court case in the morning and a wildfire in the afternoon. Someone who can independently dig in on a single topic, or lend a hand to a fellow reporter in a pinch. Strong video production skills are required for this position and familiarity with reporting on social platforms is desired.

As our audience develops and evolves we seek to meet them where they are at and where they consume their news, and a qualified candidate is someone who understands this and can demonstrate a track record of publishing news to a variety of platforms in a variety of formats. The Coloradoan values innovation and collaboration, and a good candidate will bring both to this role. When applying, please provide examples of your writing, photography, videography and any other applicable materials that demonstrate your ability to meet the demands of modern journalism.

This reporter will be a swift breaking news reporter in tune with what’s trending each day, sometimes writing multiple times per day. This person will be expected to be on the newsroom’s stoppage view producers. They will create quick videos for almost every story; sometimes producing video-only stories. This reporter will need to have the basic skills of a reporter, knowing how to access public records (such as police records and body cam and surveillance video), build sources, conduct interviews and find and read data.

Knowing and embracing Artificial Intelligence as a tool to improve their reporting duties is a must. They will be asked to localize national and state stories for our audience. They will be asked to work with other reporters and editors to create alternate URLs from existing stories. They will occasionally report in the field and will be a part of the newsroom’s coverage of big, breaking stories, such as wildfires, and tent-pole events. They will sometimes be asked to work weekends.

Responsibilities

• Write quickly and clearly, with voice.
• Deliver news via stories, video, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other methods available to reach our audience.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and shape beat strategies. This includes being adept at SEO.
• Identify top stories of the day based on analytics and audience potential.
• Work with editors to experiment with new ways of informing and engaging audiences on social platforms and alternate story forms. This includes experimenting with long-tail (evergreen) content.
• A self-starter who is eager to take the lead on new coverage areas, as well as ambitious projects to grow our brand.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2-3 years’ digital journalism experience, preferred.
• Able to file quickly across platforms: mobile, desktop and social media.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and "publication ready."
• Passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations. Also comfortable using social media to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understand reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excel in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital first mission.
• Collaborate well with others and can work with a team – including teammates and colleagues who are remote.
• Open to off-typical schedules, including the possibility of early mornings, late nights and/or weekend work. Able to be flexible as needed.

#Newsgnt

The hourly rate for this role will range between $25.00 and $32.00. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.