Reporter - Publication

Forum Communications Company; 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

Forum Communications Company, a family-owned media leader with multiple publications across the Upper Midwest, is seeking a talented journalist to join St. Cloud Live.

The role focuses on researching and crafting compelling local stories for print and digital platforms, adhering to AP style and editorial standards. You will build sources, cover local politics, safety, and community events, and drive engagement through digital channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or a related field preferred, or equivalent reporting experience.
• 3+ years of 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.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and driving record insurable by the company.

Responsibilities

• Research and craft compelling stories that adhere to editorial and AP style and format standards for publication across both print and digital platforms.
• Find, research, and tell stories tailored to the editor’s needs and target audience.
• Stay up to date on local politics, public safety, and education topics, community events, and more.
• Develop sources and partnerships as a trusted source of information.
• Contact and interview sources, and research tips and leads.
• Drive audience loyalty and digital growth through engaging content and digital memberships.
• Collaborate with digital teams and use available tools to gain insight into story metrics.
• Embrace a creative, collaborative approach with other FCC departments and locations.
• Contribute to digital initiatives and promote content on social channels.
• Maintain prompt and reliable attendance.

Skills

News writing

Editing

AP style

Interviewing

Source development

Deadline-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or related field

Tools

Web-based CMS

Social media platforms

Digital analytics tools

Job description

Job Type
Full-time

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.

Salary Description
$42,000 - $49,000

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.