Reporter

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Appleton (WI); Hybrid; USD 42,500 - 57,500; Full time

Job summary

Village Media is seeking five versatile reporters to serve in Wisconsin communities including Appleton, Fond du Lac, Kaukauna, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. You’ll capture authentic local narratives with timely reporting and engaging digital content.

Work remotely within your designated community, with some evenings and weekend hours to cover town halls and events. Compensation is $50,000 USD per year, with a 40-hour week and opportunities to grow in a supportive newsroom.

Qualifications

• Relentless curiosity and commitment to fairness, accuracy and nonpartisan reporting.

Responsibilities

• Local coverage of breaking news, features, and high-impact stories reflecting civic, cultural and economic life of the community.
• Uphold factual accuracy and verification standards in every story.
• Pitch and pursue stories that matter to readers using digital metrics and community feedback.
• Collaborate with Community Coordinator to cover CARES initiatives and Community Conversations.

Skills

Relentless curiosity

Fairness and accuracy

Strong writing

Photography (optional)

Deadline-driven

Job description

Do you believe that a well-informed community is a stronger community?

Do you have a passion for uncovering your community’s most meaningful stories? Do you believe that local news is the glue that holds a neighborhood together? Have you seen when a single impactful story can foster a stronger local connection?

At Village Media Ltd., we don’t just report the news, we maintain the digital town square. We believe that rigorous, independent, and nonpartisan journalism is the bedrock of a healthy democracy and a critical community service. We seek five versatile, high-energy Reporters to serve in each of these Wisconsin communities: Appleton, Fond du Lac, Kaukauna, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan.

The Voice of the Community

You won’t just be filing stories; you’ll be capturing the authentic local narrative through compelling writing, timely reporting and engaging digital content. We’re looking for a Reporter who knows their community better than anyone else. This is a local role where you’re immersed in the local scene—cultivating sources and listening to what actually affects your neighbors’ lives. You’ll work with your Editor to ensure our site is the most trusted voice for the stories that connect, inform and strengthen the community you call home.

What You Will Do:

• Local coverage - Report a dynamic mix of breaking news, deep-dive features, and high-impact stories that accurately reflect the civics, cultural and economic life of the community.
• Community trust - Uphold the highest standards of factual accuracy, thorough verification, and nonpartisan reporting in every story you pursue.
• Local interests - Pitch and pursue stories that matter most to our readers, using digital metrics and community feedback to guide your beats.
• CARES Initiatives - Collaborate with our Community Coordinator to identify and cover CARES initiatives and Community Conversations that drive local impact.

The Kind of People We're Looking For

Village Media is beyond a traditional media company. We’re a community impact organization. Our purpose is to help communities become stronger by keeping people informed, connected, and engaged.

That means we look for people who genuinely care about the places they serve. We need teammates who are curious, collaborative, adaptable, and energized by solving problems. You’ll fit right in if you take initiative, embrace change, and are always willing to step outside your job description to help the team or the community succeed.

We’re building something ambitious in the digital media space, so we value:

• Humility over ego
• Optimism over cynicism
• Ownership over "that’s not my job"

We move quickly, support one another, and believe meaningful work comes from people who care deeply about both their colleagues and their neighbors. If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a real difference where people live, you’ll thrive here.

At Village Media, aptitude matters. Attitude matters more.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Relentless curiosity.
• A commitment to fairness, accuracy and journalistic integrity.
• Strong news-gathering and writing skills, with the ability to complement your stories with photography.
• The ability to thrive in a hyper-local news environment, working comfortably on tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.
• The ability to constructively listen so that community feedback turns into solutions-oriented reporting that addresses the real-world concerns of the people living there.
• A valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle. Since you will cover every corner of your municipality, your vehicle is your office and the community is your newsroom.

Compensation and Logistics

• Work Arrangement: Remote/Work-from-Home, with a strict requirement of residing within your designated community. Open to non-resident candidates willing to relocate to the designated community.
• Compensation: $50,000 USD per annum.
• Hours: Generally, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Because this role is deeply rooted in the community, some evening and weekend flexibility is required to cover the town halls, local events, and breaking stories that matter most to our readers.

About Village Media

Village Media is a leading digital media company dedicated to strengthening local communities through trusted journalism, technology, and civic engagement. Headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Village Media operates a growing network of local news publications and community platforms across Canada and the United States.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status. We are committed to providing a working environment that honors the unique backgrounds and perspectives of every team member.