Visual Journalist

McClatchy Media; Kansas City (MO); Remote; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

McClatchy Media is seeking a visual journalist to capture compelling stories across photo and video formats for our digital-first newsroom. You’ll pitch ideas, respond to breaking news, and deliver timely, ethically captured assets that resonate with our diverse audience.

The role emphasizes audience-first storytelling, using analytics to inform coverage and drive growth. Proficiency with Adobe Suite, camera gear, and CMS, plus willingness to work nights and weekends, is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or related field.
• 1–3 years in digital media or related fields.
• Strong photography and videography skills with good news judgment.
• Experience with analytics, SEO, and audience engagement.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and CMS.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Produce timely, credible visual journalism—photo, video and multi-format for digital platforms.
• Pitch, develop and execute visual stories that align with newsroom priorities and audience needs.
• Use analytics and audience signals to inform coverage and measure impact.
• Build and maintain strong community contacts and sources.
• Edit, caption, tag and archive assets, managing rights and permissions.
• Use social media to distribute and highlight your work.
• Respond quickly to breaking news and shifting priorities.
• Write accurate, context-rich headlines, captions and video summaries.
• Embrace new tools, including AI and automation, to work smarter.

Skills

Photojournalism

Videography

Digital media

Analytics

SEO

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism

Tools

Adobe Suite

Camera gear

Google Workspace

Job description

Bring stories to life in a fast-moving, digital-first newsroom. As a visual journalist at McClatchy, you’ll shape how our diverse and growing community sees itself—capturing moments, people and issues with photography and video that matter to our readers. You’ll work across formats, from original assignments to short-form verticals and multi-format versions of existing reporting, using company-provided tools that streamline production and let you focus on what counts: impactful storytelling.

You’ll pitch and develop your own visual story ideas, respond to breaking news and deliver timely, accurate and ethically captured photo and video content. Our visual journalists are audience-first, using analytics and feedback to inform coverage and drive growth. You’ll work with Nikon gear and the Adobe suite, and you’ll be expected to write clean, compelling captions and headlines that help your work get discovered and shared. We encourage you to experiment with AI and automation to take routine work off your plate—freeing you to focus on the stories that matter most.

What You’ll Do

• Produce timely, credible and relevant visual journalism—photo, video and multi-format for digital platforms
• Pitch, develop and execute visual stories that align with newsroom priorities and audience needs
• Use analytics and audience signals to inform coverage and measure impact
• Build and maintain strong community contacts and sources
• Edit, caption, tag and archive assets, managing rights and permissions
• Use social media to distribute and highlight your work
• Respond quickly to breaking news and shifting priorities
• Write accurate, context-rich headlines, captions and video summaries
• Embrace new tools, including AI and automation, to work smarter

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, photojournalism or a related field preferred, or equivalent experience
• 1–3 years of experience in digital media, entertainment journalism or related fields
• Strong photography and videography skills, with excellent news judgment
• Experience with digital audience engagement, analytics and SEO
• Technical proficiency with camera, lighting and audio equipment, editing software (Adobe suite), content management systems and Google Workspace or MS Office
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and required insurance
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends and holidays as needed
• Ability to work remotely and as part of a collaborative team

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and samples of your visual work.