Data Reporter
Remote-based position located in Birmingham, Huntsville or Mobile Alabama area
AL.com is seeking a Data Reporter to join an award-winning team of investigative journalists.
You'll be part of a newsroom that has a track record of reporting untold stories that change lives and laws, while also breaking news every day and finding stories that connect with a wide audience.
Building relationships within the newsroom is key. This position is part of Pulitzer-winning investigative team, and the job will at times involve helping to procure and clean public records to build new databases to support investigative stories. Data work and visualizations will also at times support daily work across the newsroom.
But this is not a support role. This is a reporting role. And this person will find news, regularly using available public databases to tell our readers visual standalone stories about their changing state, some simple, some complex, with topics ranging from economics to comparative health statistics to changing demographics to gun violence.
The role
Find and analyze a wide variety data sets, from readily available government reports to hard-to-get data sets
Create custom graphics and visualizations for standalone stories.
Collaborate on long-term projects as well as daily stories that use data to deepen our coverage.
About you
Facility with spreadsheets, numbers and graphics
Attention to detail
Enjoys collaboration
Dedication to finding information the government and others don't want you to see
Eagerness to learn
Requirements include
Degree in journalism or communications or equivalent education and related work experience with a proven ability in journalism reporting and writing
Two or more years’ experience building, maintaining and engaging an active audience
Ability to work independently under deadline pressure
Understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure
Demonstrated capability in capitalizing on high-value topics by engaging audiences in frequency and urgency
This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.
This role is based in Alabama and the exact location is flexible.
Worried you don't meet every bullet point? If you are comfortable with numbers and enjoy working in teams, apply anyway. What we want most is someone who loves local news and is willing to learn.
Advance Local Media offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package with affordable options for your healthcare including medical, dental and vision plans, mental health support options, flexible spending accounts, fertility assistance, a competitive 401(k) plan to help plan for your future, generous paid time off, paid parental and caregiver leave and an employee assistance program to support your work/life balance, optional legal assistance, life insurance options, as well as flexible holidays to honor cultural diversity.
Alabama Media Group is one of the country's most innovative local media companies -- and operates AL.com, the AL Education Lab, This is Alabama, People of Alabama and the Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile editions of The Lede.
In addition, the company runs a digital marketing business which serves advertising clients throughout the Southeast, a film production group Advance Originals, and the national brands Reckon and It's a Southern Thing.
In the past 5 years, AL.com journalists have been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes and been a finalist for another, won 21 regional Emmys for documentary work, an Edward R. Murrow award for podcasting and a Webby Award for short-form comedy.
Alabama Media Group is a part of Advance Local Media, one of the largest media groups in the United States, which operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching 58+ million people monthly with our quality, real-time journalism and community engagement. Our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-first, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Forward-looking. For more information about Advance Local, please visit www.advancelocal.com.
Advance Local Media is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.
If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Advance Local does not provide sponsorship for work visas or employment authorization in the United States. Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. will be considered for this position.