Multimedia Journalist, Community and Culture

PBS39; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

PBS39 in Bethlehem is seeking a Multimedia Journalist, Community and Culture to cover lived experiences and cultural identities reflecting the Lehigh Valley. The beat centers on the Latino community and regional shifts across housing, healthcare, education, and civic life, reporting in English and Spanish across platforms.

The role requires producing original content, building trusted community relationships, and adapting stories for multiple formats while maintaining editorial standards.

Qualifications

• At least two to three years of professional journalism or content experience.
• Fluency in English and Spanish required for reporting and production.
• Experience producing across multiple formats (text, audio, video, social).
• Experience covering Latino communities or community and culture beats preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the Community and Culture beat, building knowledge of the Lehigh Valley's Latino community.
• Develop and maintain a diverse source network within the community.
• Report and produce original content across digital, newsletter, audio, and video formats.
• Pitch story ideas and collaborate to develop beat coverage aligned with editorial themes.
• Cover stories at housing, healthcare, education, economic development, and civic life.
• Produce content in English and Spanish for LVPM's platforms.
• Create social-native content from field and finished stories with the Social Media Coordinator.
• Collaborate on outreach and engagement initiatives with the Community Engagement Lead.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Strong writer

Field photography

Audio editing

Social-native content

Source building

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field

Job description

• The Multimedia Journalist, Community and Culture covers the lived experiences, cultural identities, and community stories that reflect a changing Lehigh Valley. This beat is anchored in the region's growing Latino community and the broader demographic shifts reshaping Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and surrounding areas -- showing up inside housing, healthcare, education, economic development, and civic life rather than existing as a separate lane.
• The journalist in this role is bilingual in English and Spanish, produces original content across all platforms, and brings an inside perspective to stories that too often get told from the outside.

JOB SUMMARY (Two/Three Lines):

• The Multimedia Journalist, Community and Culture covers the lived experiences, cultural identities, and community stories that reflect a changing Lehigh Valley. This beat is anchored in the region's growing Latino community and the broader demographic shifts reshaping Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and surrounding areas -- showing up inside housing, healthcare, education, economic development, and civic life rather than existing as a separate lane.
• The journalist in this role is bilingual in English and Spanish, produces original content across all platforms, and brings an inside perspective to stories that too often get told from the outside.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Tasks)

• Own the Community and Culture beat, developing deep knowledge of the Lehigh Valley's Latino community, immigrant populations, and the demographic and cultural shifts shaping the region.
• Build and maintain a strong, diverse source network rooted in the community -- including residents, community leaders, cultural organizations, faith communities, and advocates.
• Report and produce original content consistently across digital, newsletter, audio, and video formats, meeting deadlines and editorial standards.
• Pitch story ideas regularly and work with the Content Lead and Director of Content to develop and execute a beat coverage plan that connects community and culture stories to LVPM's broader editorial themes.
• Cover stories at the intersection of community and culture with housing, healthcare, education, economic development, and civic life -- following the community into every theme rather than covering culture as a separate topic.
• Produce content in both English and Spanish, reaching Spanish-speaking audiences across LVPM's platforms.
• Create and capture social-native content -- short-form video, photos, and clips -- from the field and from finished stories, in coordination with the Social Media Coordinator.
• Adapt and repackage stories across formats and languages to maximize reach and audience engagement.
• Represent LVPM at community events, cultural celebrations, civic meetings, and organizational gatherings relevant to the beat.
• Serve as a bridge between LVPM and Spanish-speaking communities, helping to build trust and ensure those communities see themselves reflected in LVPM's content.
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement Lead on outreach, correspondent development, and engagement initiatives aimed at Latino and immigrant communities.
• Contribute to LVPM's newsletters by providing beat content, story summaries, and updates in both English and Spanish where appropriate.
• All other duties as assigned.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Results Ownership)

• Consistent production of original, community-centered content on the Community and Culture beat across platforms, on deadline and to editorial standards.
• Content produced in both English and Spanish that reaches and reflects the Lehigh Valley's Spanish-speaking communities.
• A well-developed beat with active source relationships rooted in Latino and immigrant communities across the Lehigh Valley.
• Meaningful contribution to LVPM's social content through field capture, clips, and social-native storytelling.
• Active participation in tentpole programming and community events relevant to the beat.

Requirements

KEY COMPETENCY COMPONENTS (Behaviors Exhibited):

SKILLS: (Ability to use knowledge effectively and competently in execution)

• Strong writer and storyteller in both English and Spanish, able to produce across formats and adapt tone and length for each platform.
• Able to shoot and capture photos and video in the field to a publishable standard.
• Comfortable recording and editing audio for podcast and digital distribution.
• Creates social-native content that engages audiences on the platforms where they are.
• Strong source builder who develops genuine, trust-based relationships within Latino and immigrant communities.

KNOWLEDGE: (Facts acquired by a person through experience or education)

• Solid grounding in journalism ethics, accuracy, fairness, and editorial standards.
• Deep understanding of the Lehigh Valley's Latino community, immigrant populations, and the demographic shifts shaping the region, or a demonstrated ability to develop that knowledge quickly.
• Understanding of how content distributes differently across digital, newsletter, audio, video, and social platforms.
• Familiarity with the cultural, civic, and community organizations serving Latino and immigrant residents in the Lehigh Valley.

EXPERIENCE: (Work experience, degree attainment, professional certifications)

• At least two (2) to three (3) years of professional journalism or content experience, including reporting, writing, and multimedia production.
• Fluency in English and Spanish required -- ability to report, write, and produce content in both languages.
• Demonstrated experience producing content across more than one format -- text, audio, video, or social.
• Experience covering Latino communities, immigration, or community and culture beats strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

TRAITS: (Distinguishing qualities of a person)

• Curious
• Dependable
• Community-minded

CHARACTERISTICS: (The special trait that makes a person unique)

• Brings genuine connection and cultural fluency to the communities they cover -- this beat requires someone who earns trust from the inside, not the outside.
• Approaches the work with a can-do attitude and figures out how to get things done across formats, languages, and deadlines.
• Works well independently and as part of a collaborative team and is easy to edit.

Other Work Requirements

• May be asked to work longer hours and occasional weekends, particularly for tentpole events, community programming, and breaking coverage.
• As you will/may be driving a company vehicle or your own vehicle for company business, a valid driver’s license and a good driving record as determined by a driver’s license background check is required for this position.
• All team members must successfully pass a background check (7 years), FBI fingerprint clearance and PA child clearance.