Reporter job description

Education is a key driver of economic mobility everywhere, and especially in the Central Valley, where the gap between rich and poor families is growing even faster than it is in the rest of the state.

How do we change this trajectory and quicken the pace of advancement in educational outcomes? Answering these and related questions is at the center of The Modesto Bee's Economic Mobility Lab Project and its mission to provide revealing, solutions-oriented journalism.

As an education reporter, you will be part of a team that covers education, equity and housing/economic development. You will work closely with an editor, and be active in community engagement. You also will have the opportunity to work with other journalists both in our newsroom and across McClatchy.

Education is not covering school events and test scores, though that can be part of what we do. It's diving into the issues surrounding one of the most important drivers of economic success for a region. The Economic Mobility Project's content will go deep; it is not a breaking news assignment (though we will write stories that should be told immediately).

There are 25 school districts in Stanislaus County, and we primarily watch the largest half-dozen. The biggest district is Modesto City Schools, with an enrollment of about 30,000 students and seven high schools.

Issues we have been covering recently range from the cancelation of a high school play due to its mature content, school boards that have had members sue each other and reschedule meetings over the heightened emotions around the state's mask mandate, and districts seeing enrollment drop in some areas while others are on the brink of being overwhelmed with new development.

It's an exciting time to be covering education in Modesto, a city of 212,000 in a region of a half-million people. We are located in the heart of the Northern San Joaquin Valley, in an area offering an abundance of outdoor recreation while only 90 minutes from the Bay Area.
Requirements:

At least 1 year of full-time reporting experience Strong writing and reporting skills, with excellent news judgment Ability to use social media platforms to reach and engage with audiences Command of storytelling using a variety of tools and platforms, including capturing and editing video Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism Demonstrated comfort in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver's license and vehicle insurance required (at least minimum insurance required for the state in which the employee works)


#LI-JC1
McClatchy is committed to providing equal employment opportunity (EEO) for all applicants and employees. McClatchy considers all candidates without regard to basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, medical condition, family care status, pregnancy or physical disability (except where physical fitness is a valid occupational qualification), or any other basis protected by state and federal laws.

Job DescriptionJob Description

We are Altice USA; a family of businesses that includes Optimum, Optimum Mobile, Optimum Business, A4 advertising, Cheddar, and News12. Our common goal is connecting our customers to friends and family, shows they love, advertising that resonates and news that matters. We're building a workforce that thrives on collaboration, inclusion, and innovation. We hope connecting you to a potential role is just the beginning.

News 12 New Jersey is seeking an engaging, creative and talented News Reporter to generate story ideas, gather information, and produce and present stories and other content for all platforms and in a manner that is clear, relevant and meaningful to news consumers. Ensure all content meets News 12 Network standards for journalistic integrity and production quality. Represent News 12 positively in the community in a courteous and professional manner. Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned. Respond to breaking news and other urgent newsroom situations as required.

• Minimum of five years full-time professional news reporting experience preferred
• Highly effective on-air performance
• Exceptional news judgment
• Extensive knowledge of local and national current events, newsmakers, and issues
• Knowledge of libel laws and ethical foundations of journalism
• Ability to conduct in-depth research and pursue investigative stories effectively
• Excellent news writing ability for all platforms including social media

• Expected to write web/digital copy for all stories
• Maintain professional personal appearance as defined by News 12 management
• Proficiency in current and emerging newsgathering and production technologies
• Extensive knowledge of news production techniques and demonstrated ability to develop engaging presentation
• Consistently enhances stories by providing insight and perspective
• Ability to think quickly and respond appropriately in high pressure situations
• Bilingual Spanish a plus

Altice USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Altice USA, Inc. collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state and local law.

Applicants for employment with Altice will never be asked to provide money (even if reimbursable) as part of the job application or hiring process. Please review our Fraud FAQ for further details.

The General Assignment Reporter will cover stories and breaking news by cultivating diverse sources and help build diverse audiences, working closely with editors to monitor metrics and apply the data to help inform coverage as we serve our loyal subscribers, seek new subscribers and strive to better understand key audiences and topics. The beat calls for handling breaking news, on tight deadlines, and producing daily and weekend enterprise.
Essential Duties & Functions
Find enterprise stories and report on breaking news in relation to the assignment/beat.Use social media to find sources and stories to supplement our reporting and to communicate about the topic areas they cover.Alternative storytelling and visual storytelling - collaborating with our teams, including on Newsday TV coverage - are key growth areas, and reporters need to continue to develop skills in these areas.

Essential Job Knowledge & Skills
Experience covering breaking news on deadline is a plus.Demonstrated ability to break news, file quickly and accurately for all our platforms, meet tight deadlines, juggle more than one story at a time, cultivate sources, understand the importance of data-driven reporting and produce high-profile enterprise stories.A self-starter who can bring a creative approach to covering the news.Comfortable and proficient using social media, smartphone photo and video and other media platforms to report and tell stories.
Ability to write in an engaging manner is essential.Attention to detail is required.Ability and willingness to collaborate and build a rapport with others.Ability to find fresh story angles and write concise, lively copy in keeping with Newsday's tone and format.
Proficiency shooting iPhone photos and videos is a necessary skill.Strong organization and time management skills.Ability to prioritize and handle multiple assignments simultaneously while meeting aggressive deadlines.Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.Ability to work a flexible and varied schedule to include weekends, holidays and extended hours as needed to support business needs.

Physical Requirements
Ability to travel throughout Long Island as related to the assignment being covered. Driver's license in good standing and reliable means of transportation are required.

The Company requires that the successful candidate hired for this position be fully-vaccinated for COVID-19, absent being granted an accommodation due to medical, pregnancy, or sincerely held religious belief or other legally required exemption. If you are selected for this position, you will be asked if you are able to meet the requirement.

Newsday Media Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintain a drug-free and smoke- free workplace. In addition, Newsday Media Group provides a reasonable accommodation for applicants/incumbents with disabilities.