Community Reporter, Culpeper Times

VIRGINIA PRESS ASSN; Culpeper, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work from home

Hybrid work option

Flexible hours

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Rappahannock Media in Culpeper, VA is seeking an energetic journalist to write local government issues stories and features for the Culpeper Times. Reporting and writing are at the forefront, with a digital-first approach and community engagement.

You will cultivate sources, produce multiple stories weekly, and collaborate with an editor in a small, supportive team.

Qualifications

• Experience writing local government and feature stories.
• Strong reporting and writing skills with a newsroom background.

Responsibilities

• Write local government issues stories and features for Culpeper Times.
• Produce multiple stories weekly with real-time coverage.
• Promote coverage via social media and email newsletters.
• Be a local presence and collaborate with an editor and small team.

Skills

News reporting

Writing

Source development

Digital journalism

Social media

Job description

One of Virginia’s leading, locally owned community media companies is seeking an energetic, inquisitive and dedicated journalist to fill a great role in a great place.

Rappahannock Media, publisher of InsideNoVa and community newspapers, magazines and local news sites in Northern Virginia, is looking for an enthusiastic journalist with the experience to write everything from local government issues stories to features in Culpeper, Va., for the Culpeper Times . Reporting and writing are at the forefront of the job. You should live in and enjoy being a presence in the Culpeper community, cultivating sources and producing multiple stories – ranging from daily news to features – every week.

Located less than two hours from Washington, D.C., Culpeper County is a mix of rural and suburban with a thriving “small town” downtown. It’s filled with interesting people and good stories, especially now as the community deals with data centers, development and a local government in flux.

We cherish our weekly print newspaper, but this position prioritizes digital-first and focused reporting. Your reporting should be driven by real-time news coverage that helps build audience and engagement. This timely news coverage should be promoted through social media and email newsletters, which you will have an important in helping shape and execute.

You will be a primary face of the newspaper in an engaged, vibrant community. But don’t worry, you won’t be on your own. An experienced editor will help guide you, and you’ll be part of a small and supportive team. We have an office in the heart of downtown Culpeper, and our local sales and marketing manager is an established presence in the market.

Our company’s managers come from a news background, as do several of the company’s other owners. We are proud to regularly dominate the Virginia Press Association annual awards in key news categories. We have been a leader in nonprofit news partnerships, establishing one of the first and now longest-running collaborations in the nation.

Rappahannock Media/InsideNoVa offers a number of benefits to employees, including:

• Work from home (at times). While the position requires a regular presence in our Culpeper office and the local community, hybrid work is an option.
• Flexible hours. We’re in the news business, which is 24/7, but most positions are not Monday-Friday, 9-5. Generally, you can structure your own schedule, as long as the work gets done.
• Family atmosphere. We’re a small team, about 30 full- and part-time employees, some of whom have worked for the company or our other products for over 20 years.
• Paid time off. Full-time employees receive paid holidays and paid time off, depending on years of service with the company.
• Medical insurance. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our medical and dental insurance plans, with a significant company contribution toward the monthly premium.
• Life insurance/long-term disability coverage. Full-time employees receive life insurance and long-term disability insurance coverage at no cost.