Staff Reporter

Air Force Times, part of Military Times and a Sightline Media Group brand, was founded in 1947 as an independent voice for U.S. airmen and their families. We cover how operational, personnel and readiness decisions are made and what those mean for airmen across the globe. Our readers are service members, veterans and their families, as well as decision-makers at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and around the world.

At Sightline, beat reporters are the pulse of the organization. They break stories, find indispensable scoops, write award-winning enterprise stories and develop plugged-in sources who help readers understand what's happening in the U.S. military.

We have an immediate opening for a full-time reporter to cover the U.S. Air Force.

This job requires:

A thorough interest in and understanding of the military and the Department of the Air Force (including the Space Force), or an aptitude to learn it quickly.
Staying on top of military data and trends as well as what’s on the minds of troops, veterans and their families.
Seeking out stories that go beyond press releases and public speeches.
Communicating closely with an editor and other reporters to make sure Military Times is covering all important topics.
The flexibility to juggle reporting and writing daily news, analysis and enterprise stories, both for print and online.
Developing a deep network of sources to stay ahead of the competition.
Routinely filing Freedom of Information Act requests when agencies and the military won’t cough up the goods.
Crafting ambitious print magazine cover stories, to include profiles, investigations, military culture pieces and explainers.
Periodic travel to visit military installations, conferences, defense contractors and other relevant places around the world, with military personnel or on your own.
Occasionally appearing on camera to discuss your work.

Our ideal candidate has at least five years of relevant journalism experience and:

Proactive beat reporting experience and a proven track record of finding scoops.
Dedication to objective journalism, both in the newsroom and in your public image, and a history of producing balanced and fair news stories.
Strong knowledge of and adherence to Associated Press style.
The ability to get stubborn sources to call you back, open up and then call back again. Bonus points if this already has happened with an Air Force general.
A professional, positive and energetic attitude that can garner respect from airmen and media professionals alike.
Creativity and a contemporary approach to storytelling across digital and print platforms.

We don’t want a stenographer or a reactive reporter. We want someone who is thinking about what’s next, looks past buzzwords, won’t be easily led and thinks hard about the consequences of every decision. The story of the day might not be a good fit for our readers, while an overlooked story might be very consequential.

Sometimes the job requires parsing the nitty-gritty of defense legislation or combing through budget books. We sweat details. Our editors value accuracy, clarity and a good story.