Statewide Trending Reporter

USA Today Co.; Salem, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon is seeking a versatile reporter to cover statewide trending topics. You’ll produce quick-hit multimedia stories that answer Oregonians’ most pressing questions and engage a mobile audience.

You will monitor social trends, use analytics, and craft compelling coverage—from mountains to coastline—while staying flexible as news develops and SEO best practices guide your reach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One to two years of journalism experience with solid news writing and reporting.
• Ability to shoot and edit videos and still images.
• Strong SEO and social media skills to promote work and engage readers.
• Self-motivated with good organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with colleagues, sources and community.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation; liability insurance as required by state law.

Responsibilities

• Publish two to three stories on trending topics each day.
• Identify trending news to create timely, relevant stories that spark conversation.
• Monitor social media, Google Trends, and Parse.ly to capture a wide audience.
• Track performance metrics and inform future coverage.
• Follow SEO and platform best practices to optimize reach and impact.
• Be flexible and shift priorities quickly as news develops.

Skills

News writing

Video shooting/editing

SEO & social media

Self-motivation

Time management

Relationship building

Media law & ethics

Education

Bachelor's or master's in communications/journalism

Job description

The Statesman Journal/statesmanjournal.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks a versatile and nimble reporter to cover statewide trending topics in Oregon.

If there’s one term your friends use to describe you, it’s “extremely online.” You will start conversations and produce quick-hit multimedia trending stories that answer Oregonians’ most pressing questions.

The ideal candidate is well-versed in analytics, writing for a mobile-first, digital audience and knows what makes Oregon special.

You will look for ways to constantly grow and interact with our audience, including through video explainers, on everything from secret mountain springs to fireworks displays on the Oregon Coast.

This position is based in our Salem office. The capital city is located between the Coast and Cascade Mountain ranges in the Mid-Willamette Valley. It is about one hour south of Portland, one hour north of Eugene and an hour west of the stunning Oregon Coast.

Responsibilities:

• Publish two to three stories on trending topics each day.
• Identifytrending news to createtimely, relevant stories that spark conversation and join existing conversations.
• Monitor social media, Google Trends and historically popular topics through Parse.ly to determine how best to capture a wide audience.
• Track performance metrics to understand what resonates with our audience and inform future coverage.
• Follow SEO and platform best practices to optimize reach and impact.
• Be flexible and willing to shift priorities quickly as news develops.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of educationandexperience.
• One to two years of experience in journalism with a strong foundation in news writingand reportingandability to shootandedit videosandstills.
• Mastery of SEOandsocial mediaandusing it to promote your workandinteract with readers.
• Self-motivationandself-direction.
• Excellent organizationalandtime management skills.
• Ability to buildandmaintain strong relationships with colleagues, sourcesandthe community.
• Commandof media lawandprinciples of ethical conduct.
• This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation,andthe minimum liability insurance required by state law.