Reporter

Formstack; Mississippi; Hybrid; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at The University of Southern Mississippi is seeking student reporters for paid positions or class-credit internships. Reporters will cover Southeast Mississippi communities, collaborating with editors and photographers to produce content across digital, print, radio, and video platforms.

Ideal candidates are journalism-focused juniors or seniors with strong interviewing and writing skills, who can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and

Qualifications

• Student journalist pursuing a career in journalism or related fields.
• Ability to develop original story ideas and conduct interviews.
• Commitment to AP style, accuracy and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Pitch one original story ideas by 12:00 p.m. each Thursday, including primary and secondary sourcing.
• Attend weekly editorial meetings, held virtually and in person in College Hall on USM's Hattiesburg campus, Fridays at 9:00 a.m.
• Work with team members to research, outline story coverage, and schedule interviews.
• Conduct interviews, take photographs, record audio and video, perform standups and edit content as needed.
• Write for print and produce broadcast, radio and audio essays as assigned.
• Maintain personal social media accounts as a representative of RHCJC.
• Assist with marketing the center and center content.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Skills

Story pitching

Interviewing

AP style

Deadline-driven

Education

Enrolled at The University of Southern Mississippi

Tools

Camera basics

Photo/video editing basics

Job description

This application is for students attending The University of Southern Mississippi who are seeking a paid position or an internship for class credit with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center. If you are a non-USM student, please refer to our jobs page .

Role Description

Student reporters help identify and report the stories that matter to communities across South Mississippi. Reporters may begin with the Southeast Mississippi Planner, covering community events, public meetings, government actions and other timely developments, and progress to more in-depth reporting assignments as they gain experience.

Student reporters monitor assigned communities and beats, develop original story ideas, conduct interviews, review public records and attend local meetings. They produce accurate, timely journalism for RHCJC News and its media partners across digital, print, video, radio and other platforms.

Reporters work with editors and other student journalists, including photographers/videographers, visual content producers and digital innovation specialists. They are expected to verify information, clearly attribute sourcing, follow AP style and RHCJC newsroom standards, communicate with editors and meet assigned deadlines.

The position provides hands-on experience in a working community newsroom and opportunities to build a professional portfolio. Student reporters are expected to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester.

Eligibility and priority:Reporter positions are intended for students pursuing careers in journalism or related fields. Applicants enrolled in the School of Media and Communication will receive priority consideration.

Job Responsibilities

• Pitch one original story ideas by 12:00 p.m. each Thursday, including primary and secondary sourcing.
• Attend weekly editorial meetings, held virtually and in person in College Hall on USM's Hattiesburg campus, Fridays at 9:00 a.m.
• Work with team members to research, outline story coverage, and schedule interviews.
• Conduct interviews, take photographs, record audio and video, perform standups and edit content as needed.
• Write for print and produce broadcast, radio and audio essays as assigned.
• Maintain personal social media accounts as a representative of RHCJC.
• Assist with marketing the center and center content.
• Other tasks as assigned.

About Us

The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center is a student-powered newsroom at The University of Southern Mississippi, dedicated to reporting what matters in Southeast Mississippi’s underserved communities. We produce high-impact, professional journalism that’s published across the state — and train students to do the kind of work that are top stories in real-world newsrooms.

This role is ideal for a junior or senior who’s serious about standing out in the job market. You’ll be part of a professional newsroom environment and work on stories that matter — interviewing sources, writing articles, crafting broadcast and radio scripts, and helping pitch and research stories from the ground up.

Your content will be distributed to dozens of major TV, radio, and print outlets throughout Mississippi — giving you bylines and credits that reach a wide audience and strengthen your portfolio.

Hattiesburg (College Hall)

Gulf Park (Elizabeth Hall)

Hybrid

Yes - I have a valid driver's license and agree to an MVR check.

No - I do not have a valid license or prefer not to be on the list.

If hired, I commit to working 20 hours with the Center for the semester.

If hired, I commit to participating fully for the entirety of the Cohort.