Suburban Accountability Reporter

LNP Media Group; Lancaster (Lancaster County); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

LNP Media Group in Lancaster County seeks a Suburbs Watchdog Reporter to cover trends, problems and solutions in the townships around Lancaster city, focusing on communities that form LNP | LancasterOnline's largest audiences.

The reporter acts as an advocate for readers, cuts through red tape, navigates government and bureaucracy, and seeks practical answers and solutions while delivering journalism across digital, social, video and print platforms.

Qualifications

• Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, mass communications, or related field; proven reporting in a professional newsroom; municipal government experience preferred.
• Journalism Skills: Strong news writing, AP style, sourcing, fact-checking, ethics; develop sources and conduct quick-turn and enterprise reporting.
• Government and Financial Literacy: Understand municipal budgets, spending, authorities, salaries, and related records.
• Communication Skills: Clear written and verbal communication with residents, officials, sources and teams.
• Digital and Multimedia Skills: Proficient with newsroom systems, photo/video, livestreaming, publishing online, and social platforms.
• Technical/System Skills: Comfortable with computers, devices, web publishing tools, and analytics like Parse.ly.
• Work Style: Fast tempo, organized, curious, persistent, with independent and collaborative work capability.
• Schedule and Travel: Willing to travel Lancaster County; ability to work nights, weekends, irregular hours.
• Physical and Work Environment: Sit/stand, travel to locations, field reporting; varied weather and conditions.

Responsibilities

• Respond to reader questions, investigate concerns, and pursue solutions on infrastructure, public services, and public funds.
• Develop authoritative coverage of core suburban municipalities.
• Monitor political and civic developments county-wide and cover major controversies.
• Analyze budgets, pensions, and government entities to identify trends and accountability.
• Produce a balanced mix of daily stories, enterprise reporting and investigations.
• Attend municipal meetings to develop sources and uncover stories beyond summaries.
• Build relationships with residents, officials and colleagues across the coverage area.
• Collaborate to recognize trends and strengthen reporting across Lancaster County.
• Exercise sound news judgment, ethics and accuracy in reporting.

Skills

Journalism

AP style

Sourcing

Public records

Investigative reporting

Storytelling

Digital multimedia

Interviews

Time management

News judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism or related field

Job description

LNP Media Group in Lancaster County seeks a Suburbs Watchdog Reporter to cover trends, problems and solutions in the townships around Lancaster city, focusing on communities that form LNP | LancasterOnline's largest audiences.

The reporter acts as an advocate for readers, cuts through red tape, navigates government and bureaucracy, and seeks practical answers and solutions while delivering journalism across digital, social, video and print platforms.