Reporter - Community Insight Jackson

Oregonian Media Group; Jackson (MI); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

MLive Media Group seeks a reporter to cover government and business development in Jackson County. The role requires sharp writing, strong video scripts, and the ability to produce social videos when appropriate.

You will dig into enterprise work that helps readers understand their community and translate community buzz into trusted journalism. We value curiosity, accountability, and a flair for explaining complex local issues.

Qualifications

• A degree in journalism, communications or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• At least one year of professional journalism experience with a demonstrated ability to produce clear, compelling and accurate reporting.
• Ability to identify, verify and develop important stories that resonate with everyday residents.
• Prioritize accountability and service journalism by filing FOIAs and building a source network.
• Comfort appearing on camera and producing short, engaging social videos.
• Digital fluency and audience focus, including understanding where local residents are talking.
• Ability to work independently and remotely, as well as in the MLive office.
• Reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.

Responsibilities

• Cover government and business development in Jackson County.
• Write sharp stories and strong video scripts.
• Produce a TikTok or other social video when the story calls for it.
• Dig into longer enterprise work that helps readers understand their community.
• Turn buzz in the community into useful, trusted journalism.
• Work with editors to grow and refine reporting and context using AI responsibly.

Skills

Journalistic writing

Video scripting

Social video production

Audience focus

Public records research

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or related field

Tools

AI for journalism

Job description

Strengthening and empowering all of the communities we serve.

MLive seeks a newsreporterto cover government and business development in Jackson County. We are looking for a reporter who can write sharp stories and strong video scripts, produce a TikTok or other social video when the story calls for it, and also dig into longer enterprise work that helps readers understand their community. This role requires someone who does not rely only on officials or institutions for story ideas, but listens closely to the buzz in the community, and turns that curiosity into useful, trusted journalism.

Here’s why you’ll want to work with us:

• We are the state’s largest media organization with newspapers in eight of Michigan’s largest cities, including Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo. We routinely score No. 1 in national audience metrics, guaranteeing that our work reaches millions of readers and has maximum impact.
• Our mission is journalism that makes a difference in the lives of Michiganders. “We comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
• Our team of journalists are among the best in the state. Most recently, our investigative work on a dangerous pesticide and its connections with Parkinson’s disease has prompted Michigan and other states to pursue a ban. Impact and accountability reporting are at the core of our mission.
• We are committed to professional development, and you’ll have the opportunity to work with talented editors who will help you grow and fine-tune your skills.

The base salary range is$55,000 - $65,000per year.

This position is responsible for using social monitoring tools , search trends, public information feeds, meeting agendas and community conversations to stay on top of daily news and identify the questions readers most need answered. The reporter should be able to move quickly from listening to reporting: producing timely updates and explainers, making calls, getting into the community and advancing stories people are already talking about — not simply following the narrative leaders in government , business or other institutions want us to push. Candidates should also feel comfortable using AI responsibly as a tool to work smarter , surface story ideas, build context and go deeper on important topics.

Other key skills:

• A degree in journalism, communications or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• At least one year of professional journalism experience with a demonstrated ability to produce clear, compelling and accurate reporting.
• Ability to identify, verify and develop important stories that resonate with everyday residents, including ideas surfaced through reader questions, social conversation, search trends and public records.
• Prioritize accountability and service journalism by filing FOIAs, building a strong and varied source network, asking rigorous questions and explaining how local decisions affect daily life.
• Comfort appearing on camera and producing short, engaging social videos that bring reporting to wider audiences.
• Digital fluency and audience focus, including an understanding of where local residents are talking, what they are asking and how to turn that curiosity into useful, repeatable coverage formats.
• Comfort working at a high tempo, balancing fast, accurate daily updates with enterprise, accountability and explanatory stories that build reader trust and habit.
• Ability to work independently and remotely, as well as in the MLive office.
• This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.

Additional Information

Advance Local Media offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package with affordable options for your healthcare including medical, dental and vision plans, mental health support options, flexible spending accounts, fertility assistance, a competitive 401(k) plan to help plan for your future, generous paid time off, paid parental and caregiver leave and an employee assistance program to support your work/life balance, optional legal assistance, life insurance options, as well as flexible holidays to honor cultural diversity.

MLive Media Group is a part of Advance Local Media, one of the largest media groups in the United States, which operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching 52+ million people monthly with our quality, real-time journalism and community engagement. Our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-first, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Forward-looking. For more information about Advance Local, please visitwww.advancelocal.com .

MLive Media Group is an audience-first, digitally focused media company encompassing all content, sales and marketing operations for: MLive.com, as well as newspapers The Grand Rapids Press, The Muskegon Chronicle, Kalamazoo Gazette, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, The Ann Arbor News, The Flint Journal, The Saginaw News, and The Bay City Times. In addition to being Michigan's #1 news and information provider, MLive Media Group is Michigan's largest local media advertising network, allowing advertisers to reach local audiences in communities across the state.

Advance Local Media is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Advance Local Media does not provide sponsorship for work visas or employment authorization in the United States. Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. will be considered for this position.

Advance Local Media LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The Know Your Rights poster is available here:

The pay transparency policy is available here:

Advance Local Media LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources, and let us know the nature of your request and contact information.