Reporter, Rapid Response Team

The Associated Press; New York (NY); On-site; USD 53,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Associated Press seeks a versatile, competitive reporter to join its national Rapid Response Team based in North Dakota. This journalist will help drive coverage of the biggest breaking news stories in the country, delivering fast, authoritative reporting for AP’s global audience.

As part of AP’s national report, the reporter will move quickly on major spot news, contribute to live and developing coverage.

Qualifications

• At least two years of full-time journalism experience.
• Proven ability to cover breaking news accurately under deadline.
• Strong reporting, interviewing and writing skills.
• Strong digital reporting skills with social media and user-generated content.
• Sharp news judgment to distinguish credible information from rumor and spin.

Responsibilities

• Cover major breaking news stories and develop sources quickly.
• Build strong sourcing with officials, first responders, community leaders and others.
• Verify user-generated content and digital materials to advance coverage.
• Write quickly, clearly on deadline and deliver cohesive reports across formats.
• Identify emerging stories in North Dakota and the Midwest with broader significance.

Skills

Reporting

Interviewing

Writing under deadline

Digital reporting

Source development

OSINT

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Public records

Job description

Location: Bismarck, ND, US, 58502

Company: Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press is seeking a versatile, competitive reporter to join its national Rapid Response Team based in NorthDakota. This journalist will help drive coverage of the biggest breaking news stories in the country, delivering fast, authoritative reporting for AP’s global audience. As part of AP’s national report, the reporter will move quickly on major spot news, contribute to live and developing coverage, and deploy to significant events, working closely with colleagues across text, photo and video to produce distinctive journalism that stands apart from the competition. While the primary focus is national breaking news, the journalist will also identify stories from NorthDakota and the Midwest that resonate far beyond state borders. This is a staff position covered by AP’s agreement with the News Media Guild.

Responsibilities:

In this role, you will cover some of the biggest breaking news stories in the country, moving quickly to establish what happened, what is known and what matters as events develop. You should be a competitive reporter who can rapidly develop sources, uncover exclusive information and identify the reporting that moves a story forward.

You will build strong sourcing with federal, state and local officials, first responders, community and industry leaders, and others who can alert AP to significant developments and help explain what is happening behind closed doors. You should also be skilled at finding, assessing and verifying user-generated content, social media posts and other digital material that can help establish and advance breaking news.

The job requires moving seamlessly between fast, incremental reporting, live coverage and deeper reporting that adds context, accountability and understanding. You will write quickly, clearly and accurately on deadline, put people at the center of coverage and work closely with AP journalists across text, photo, video, audio, digital, interactive and graphics to deliver a strong, cohesive report.

While this is a national breaking news role, you will also be expected to identify emerging stories, trends and developments in NorthDakota and across the Midwest that have broader significance.

Required Qualifications:

• At least two years of full-time journalism experience at a daily newspaper, broadcast or digital newsroom, news agency or equivalent news organization.
• A demonstrated track record of covering breaking news accurately and competitively under intense deadline pressure.
• Strong reporting, interviewing and writing skills, including the ability to develop sources and quickly establish new ones when entering an unfamiliar story, community or subject area.
• Strong digital reporting skills, including experience using social media, user-generated content and other online tools to find, verify and advance news.
• Sharp news judgment and the ability to quickly distinguish credible information from rumor, misinformation and spin.

We're also looking for a reporter who is:

• Competitive and driven to look beyond the obvious headline for scoops, distinctive angles and reporting others are missing.
• Able to recognize when a local or regional development has broader national significance.
• Comfortable moving between breaking news, live coverage and deeper enterprise and accountability reporting.
• Passionate about putting people at the center of stories and able to make complex topics understandable to broad audiences.
• A strong collaborator who can work effectively with AP journalists across all formats.
• Dedicated to pursuing innovative and inclusive coverage while maintaining AP’s standards for accuracy, integrity, fairness and objectivity.

Other qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English.
• Flexible thinking, strong organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple reporting priorities as news changes.
• The ability and willingness to travel on short notice and work nights, weekends and other shifts when coverage demands, as AP is a 24/7 operation.
• Authorization to work in the United States.
• Experience finding and verifying user-generated content, including familiarity with OSINT and other digital verification techniques, is a plus.
• Experience using public records, data and freedom of information laws to uncover information and advance reporting is a plus.
• Experience covering food and agriculture, particularly issues affecting the Midwest and the nation’s agricultural economy, is a plus.
• Knowledge of North Dakota, the Upper Midwest and rural communities is a plus.

Application deadline is September 10 at 11:59 P.M. ET.

This position is covered by The Associated Press' contract with the News Media Guild, which provides an annual salary for Class A staff of between $53,477 and $85,214 based on location and years of professional experience. Compensation is contingent on a job candidate's skills, qualifications and market location. Employees are eligible to participate, according to the terms of the official plan documents, in a 401(k) plan and employer-sponsored health insurance plan, and are eligible for paid time off and holidays in accordance with AP policy.

The Associated Press offers comprehensive benefits which include:

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
• Retirement benefits
• Company paid life insurance
• Paid vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave for any new parent
• Mental health resources

AP seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. We support all aspects of diversity and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a veteran, or other characteristic protected by law.

Nearest Major Market: North Dakota

Nearest Secondary Market: Bismarck