Reporter - Publication

Forum Communications Co.; Saint Cloud (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision packages

Paid maternity and parental leave

Company-paid short-term disability and

Life insurance

Retirement benefits with company match

Generous PTO and paid volunteer hours

Job summary

St. Cloud Live, part of Forum Communications Company, seeks a journalist to research and craft compelling local stories for print and digital platforms. You will respond quickly to breaking news, develop sources, and produce engaging content while maintaining high ethical standards and AP style.

The role emphasizes collaboration with digital teams to leverage analytics and grow memberships, with flexible hours to cover events in the St. Cloud area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or equivalent reporting/writing experience.
• 3+ years of writing experience for a newspaper, website, magazine, or specialty publication.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading with AP style.
• Photography and basic photo editing experience preferred; journalistic ethics strong.

Responsibilities

• Research and craft compelling stories adhering to editorial and AP style for print and digital.
• Find, research, and tell stories tailored to editor’s needs and audience.
• Stay updated on local politics, public safety, education, and community events.
• Develop sources and partnerships; become a trusted local information source.
• Interview sources and research tips and leads; use web CMS to publish.
• Drive audience loyalty and digital growth through timely content and analytics.

Skills

Writing

Editing

AP style

Interviews

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism

Tools

CMS

Photo editing

Job description

Job Summary

St. Cloud Live is a fast-growing, emerging digital and print news publication dedicated to delivering the local news, entertainment, and stories that matter most to the St. Cloud metro area. With a strong focus on digital innovation and audience engagement, St. Cloud Live’s journalism has earned widespread recognition, including nine awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association in 2024, with four first-place honors! Located just an easy drive from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, St. Cloud offers the perfect blend of small-city living and access to big-city amenities. Residents enjoy a thriving local arts and culture scene, abundant parks and trails, growing restaurants and breweries, and community events that make everyday life vibrant and connected. With a lower cost of living than the Twin Cities and a strong sense of community, St. Cloud is an appealing place to grow your career and your life. St. Cloud Live is part of Forum Communications Company, a fifth-generation, family-owned media organization with more than 20 publications across the Upper Midwest, collectively reaching more than 5 million readers each month.

Essential Functions

• Research and craft compelling stories that adhere to editorial and AP style and format standards for publication across both print and digital platforms - following leads and responding quickly to breaking news.
• Find, research, and tell stories tailored to the editor’s needs and target audience.
• Stay up to date on the latest current events - local politics, public safety and education topics, community events, and more.
• Become an active part of the local and surrounding communities, developing sources and partnerships as a trusted source of information.
• Contact and interview sources, and research tips and leads.
• Displaying sound editorial judgements, including a thorough understanding and application of the law, relevant codes of practice, and ethical principles.
• Drive audience loyalty and digital growth through engaging and timely content, developing unique story ideas and content around key categories that drive digital memberships and reader engagement.
• Collaborate with digital teams and make use of available tools and technology to gain insight into story metrics, determining new ways to create and present content online.
• Embrace a creative, collaborative approach with other team members and with other FCC departments and locations.
• Contribute to the overall advancement of digital initiatives; share and promote digital content through various social media channels.
• Maintain prompt and reliable attendance.

Non-Essential Duties And Functions

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional reporting/writing experience.
• 3+ years of previous writing experience for a newspaper, website, magazine, or specialty publication strongly preferred.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with a solid grasp of AP style.
• Photography and basic photo editing experience preferred, and a strong commitment to journalistic integrity and ethics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with community members and business leaders alike.
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify compelling story angles that resonate with local audiences.
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines and organize multiple assignments, while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail using a Web-based content management system.
• Familiarity with digital publishing tools, social media platforms, audience engagement strategies, and digital analytics/digital tools is a plus.
• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours as the news happens, including evenings and weekends as needed, based on coverage needs.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and a driving record that is insurable by the company.
• Must carry an acceptable level of vehicle insurance as required by the company.

Expected compensation for this role is between $42,000 - $49,000, based on qualifications and experience.

About The Company

Forum Communications Company is a family-owned media and technology leader with more than a century of delivering trusted, quality journalism and innovative business solutions. Storytelling is at the heart of who we are, but today, we’re so much more than a newspaper. As one of the Upper Midwest’s leading media organizations, we’re driving the future across print and digital news, sports streaming, technology, broadcasting, commercial printing, and full-service agency advertising.

Forum Communications Company offers the following to all Full-Time and 32-Hour Benefited employees:

• Health, dental, and vision packages
• Paid maternity and parental leave
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Additional options for critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage
• Retirement benefits with company match
• Generous PTO and paid volunteer hours

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. FCC currently does not offer employer sponsorship.