Reporter, Louisiana Illuminator

States Newsroom; Baton Rouge (LA); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium-free platinum health care for

4 weeks of vacation per year

2 weeks of personal leave per year

20 hours of paid volunteer time per

11 paid holidays per year

$75 monthly cell phone reimbursement

$200 cell phone replacement benefit

$75 monthly fitness benefit

401K with up to 3% match

12 weeks of parental leave

Full-service EAP

Job summary

The Louisiana Illuminator, part of States Newsroom, seeks an experienced reporter to cover the Louisiana Legislature, state agencies, statewide elections and policy impacts in Baton Rouge. You’ll produce daily and enterprise stories, create social content, and leverage source-building and public records requests.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years of reporting experience, strong news judgment, and an ability to work across deadlines with colleagues. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of news reporting experience.
• Strong news judgment and attention to detail.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on issues facing Louisiana
• Contribute regularly to the Illuminator’s briefs section
• Generate story ideas with the editor
• Pursue story leads, both self-generated and as assigned, with self-direction and solid news judgment
• Approach assignments on deadline with strong communication and follow through with the editor and colleagues
• Collaborate with other reporters on projects and share research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
• Establish and expand digital media presence representing the outlet and use personal social media to amplify the site’s content, presence and voice
• Take photos and video to illustrate and amplify stories

Skills

News reporting

Bilingual

Job description

Join the Louisiana Illuminator and give readers hard-hitting political coverage that connects state policy to citizens’ lives.

The Louisiana Illuminator is an award-winning nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, politics and policy. It is staffed by veteran Louisiana reporters and is dedicated to its mission of relentless investigative journalism that sheds light on how decisions in Baton Rouge are made and their impact on individuals across the Pelican State.

Part of States Newsroom , the Louisiana Illuminator believes in enlisting and empowering journalists to do impactful, ambitious work.

Based in Baton Rouge, this reporter will thrive in a collaborative culture, possess great news judgment and demonstrate the ability to develop a beat to create compelling, engaging journalism. The reporter will cover the Louisiana Legislature, state agencies, statewide elections and other assignments, with an emphasis on coverage focused on how people are impacted by policy. The reporter will produce daily and enterprise stories and create content for social media, including videos. Experience with vertical video is a plus.

The ideal candidate will know how to track trending topics and hold officials accountable through deep source building and public records requests. The reporting will take readers beyond press releases, providing a deeper understanding of the issues.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on issues facing Louisiana
• Contribute regularly to the Illuminator’s briefs section
• Generate story ideas with the editor
• Pursue story leads, both self-generated and as assigned, with self-direction and solid news judgment
• Approach assignments on deadline with strong communication and follow through with the editor and colleagues
• Collaborate with other reporters on projects and share research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
• Establish and expand digital media presence representing the outlet and use personal social media to amplify the site’s content, presence and voice
• Take photos and video to illustrate and amplify stories

QUALIFICATIONS

We’re looking for candidates with at least three years previous news reporting experience, sound news judgment, flexibility and the ability to manage ongoing and short-term projects with strong attention to detail and accuracy. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. States Newsroom journalists are expected to produce at least four posts per week.

Authorization to work in the United States is required. At this time, States Newsroom is unable to provide visa sponsorship.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The minimum salary for this position is $55,000. Relocation stipend will be considered. Our generous benefits package includes:

• Premium-free platinum health care for employees (and a majority of medical premiums covered for qualified dependents)
• 4 weeks of vacation per year
• 2 weeks of personal leave per year
• 20 hours of paid volunteer time per year
• 11 paid holidays per year
• $75 monthly cell phone reimbursement
• $200 cell phone replacement benefit every two years
• $75 monthly fitness benefit
• 401K with up to 3% match
• 12 weeks of parental leave
• Full-service EAP

ABOUT OUR CULTURE

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels – from quick hit to investigative – but we also aim to be supportive, welcoming, and positive.

We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat. States Newsroom’s mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission.

At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.