Reporter, West Virginia Watch

AAJA26; Charleston, Northern (WV, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Vacation days

Personal leave

Volunteer time

Holidays

Cell phone allowance

Phone replacement benefit

Fitness benefit

401K with match

Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

States Newsroom in Charleston, WV, is hiring a reporter to cover the Legislature and state government, producing daily and enterprise stories, and growing the outlet’s audience. You will work with a team of Watch journalists, deliver sharp reporting, and leverage vertical video social media to reach readers across the Mountain State.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of experience, strong news judgment, and the ability to manage multiple assignments on deadline.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of reporting and/or editing experience.
• Bilingual candidates encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on issues facing West Virginia.
• Generate story ideas with the editor.
• Pursue story leads with self-direction and sound judgment.
• Meet deadlines with clear communication with editor and colleagues.
• Collaborate with reporters on projects and share research when available.
• Build digital presence and amplify content on social media.
• Take photos and video to illustrate stories.

Skills

News judgment

Collaboration

Social media storytelling

Tools

Photography

Video production

Social media management

Job description

States Newsroom

1414 Raleigh Rd. Suite 127,Chapel Hill, North Carolina,27517,United States

Web: www.statesnewsroom.com

Company Profile

Contact Email : [e-mail]

Location: Charleston, West Virginia, United States

Job Category: Online | New Media,

Employment Type: Full time,

Posted: 09.01.2026

Job Description

Join West Virginia Watch and give readers hard-hitting government coverage that connects state policy to West Virginians’ lives.

West Virginia Watch is an award-winning nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, politics and policy. It is staffed by veteran West Virginia reporters and is dedicated to its mission of journalism that sheds light on how decisions in Charleston affect people across theMountain State.

Based in Charleston, this reporter will possess great news judgment, create compelling, engaging journalism and will collaborate well with other Watch journalists. The reporter will cover the Legislature, state agencies, statewide elections and other assignments. The reporter will produce daily and enterprise stories, take photos and share content on social media. The ideal candidate will also have a strong command of vertical video-based social media and help the Watch’s work to grow our audience on Instagram.

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, press conferences and protests, providing a deeper understanding of the issues.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on issues facing West Virginia
• 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

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 75% 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.

Job Requirements

We’re looking for candidates with at least three years previous news reporting and/or editing experience (student journalism counts), 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. Candidates should have a vehicle so they can travel throughout the state for reporting.

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