Reporter / Assistant Editor - Future Editor Track

Clay Today; Olympia, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance stipend

Job summary

The JOLT News Organization in Thurston County is seeking a Reporter / Assistant Editor who will work in person and with local sources to cover our community daily. The role includes reporting and some editing as a transition path toward lead Editor.

You will attend public meetings, interview officials and community members, and collaborate with contract reporters while shaping coverage with AP style and newsroom standards.

Qualifications

• At least three years of professional reporting experience.
• At least one year of editing responsibilities, including staff or freelance work.
• Strong reporting, interviewing, writing, editing and fact-checking skills.
• Strong command of grammar, spelling and AP style.
• Sound news judgment and understanding of journalistic ethics, fairness, attribution and source protection.

Responsibilities

• Report daily and breaking news, community stories, enterprise pieces and investigative stories.
• Edit and fact-check stories for accuracy, clarity, and AP style; plan and assign coverage.
• Collaborate with local team and contract reporters; ensure accurate headlines and social media copy.
• Transition into lead Editor role within approximately six to nine months and oversee newsroom workflow.

Skills

Reporting experience

Editing

AP style

Ethics

Tools

AP style guide

Job description

About The JOLT News Organization

The JOLT is The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater, an award-winning nonprofit local-news organization serving the 302,000 residents of Thurston County. We publish civic and general news every weekday on our website and through our newsletter, The Daily JOLT.

For six years, we have been committed to accurate, useful reporting that helps people understand their community and participate in civic life. The JOLT has also received national recognition as an innovator in local journalism, including being selected as a 2024 recipient of the Press Forward Open Call on Closing Local Coverage Gaps.

Why Thurston County?

Located in Western Washington, Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater offer access to both an active local community and the outdoors. Tacoma is about 30 minutes north, Seattle about an hour north, Mount Rainier about an hour east, and the Pacific Ocean about 75 minutes west, with Puget Sound reaching into downtown Olympia.

The area is home to colleges and universities, theaters, nonprofit organizations, festivals and community events, along with easy access to city, county, state and national parks.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced journalist who wants to live in Thurston County, become part of the community and cover it in person.

Our current editor anticipates retiring in the coming months. The successful candidate will join The JOLT as a Reporter / Assistant Editor, with the goal of transitioning into the lead Editor role within approximately six to nine months.

This is not a remote reporting position. The role is built around local, in-person newsgathering, including attending public meetings and community events, developing sources and conducting interviews. During the transition period, the position will combine hands‑on reporting with editing and newsroom coordination.

This is also an opportunity to help shape The JOLT’s next chapter. We will be re‑evaluating our beats, reporting methods, media and distribution channels, and editorial policies, and this person will be an important part of that process.

Primary Responsibilities

Reporting

Report daily and breaking news, community stories, enterprise pieces and occasional in‑depth or investigative stories. Attend local meetings and events and conduct in‑person and phone interviews with community members, public officials, businesses, nonprofits and other sources. Develop original story ideas that go beyond press releases and official announcements. Build relationships and sources throughout Thurston County.

Editing & Collaboration

Edit and fact‑check stories for accuracy, fairness, clarity, completeness and AP style. Help plan and assign coverage and provide clear reporting direction. Review headlines, captions, summaries and social media copy. Work closely with The JOLT’s local team and 5 contract reporters based in the Philippines.

Our collaborative reporting model combines local, on‑the‑ground newsgathering with remote writing and research support, allowing local journalists to spend more time in the community without sacrificing local knowledge, accuracy or accountability.

Future Editor Role

The successful candidate is expected to transition into The JOLT’s lead Editor role within approximately six months, based on organizational needs, the current editor’s retirement timeline and demonstrated readiness.

As Editor, responsibilities will expand to include setting editorial priorities, assigning coverage, supervising and coaching reporters, overseeing newsroom workflow and publication schedules, maintaining editorial quality and consistency, and working closely with the Publisher/Executive Director to support The JOLT’s mission and growth. The Editor will also remain actively involved in reporting and writing important local stories.

Required Qualifications

At least three years of professional reporting experience. At least one year of editing responsibilities, including experience such as editing staff or freelance work, assigning stories, reviewing drafts or overseeing publication. Strong reporting, interviewing, writing, editing and fact‑checking skills. Strong command of grammar, spelling and AP style. Sound news judgment and understanding of journalistic ethics, fairness, attribution and source protection.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:

• Local government, education, courts, housing, business, environmental issues, nonprofits or public agencies.


• Enterprise, investigative, data or public-records reporting.


• Newsroom leadership, mentoring or story assignment.


• Working with remote employees, contractors or contributors.


• Familiarity with Thurston County or the broader South Puget Sound region.

Work Arrangement

Once hired, the employee will be required to live in Thurston County and be regularly available for in‑person reporting, community events, interviews and newsroom collaboration.

The position may involve a combination of working from home, reporting throughout the community and meeting with the team in person or virtually.

Compensation

During the Reporter / Assistant Editor transition period, this is an hourly position paying $25 to $33 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Upon promotion to Editor, the pay range will increase to $35.50 to $38.50 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Eligible employees also receive a monthly health insurance stipend in accordance with organizational policy.