Freeport Reporter and Newsletter Writer

We’re on a mission to save local journalism. You interested?

Join us in restoring local news as the center of community life in Freeport, IL. We’re seeking to work with an experienced journalist who already understands Freeport. Preferably you’re already a local, or perhaps returning to your roots. At the very least, you can articulate exactly why you want to live in Freeport and why its concerns are yours, too. You’re energized by the idea that you’ll be the community’s most informative voice – plugged in with local newsmakers and influencers and brimming with questions and ideas. You’re driven by curiosity and, like us, you think saving local news is a calling, not just a job. You respect the ethical principles of our profession and demand verification, not rumors.

You’ll be part of an ambitious expansion of an initiative that has already proven successful across the U.S. You’ll work closely (remotely) with an experienced editor and be part of a nationwide team in Gannett’s Center for Community Journalism. With us, you’ll be developing and testing a model for sustainable local journalism that will influence the trajectory of our company – and our industry.

You will spend most of your days reporting on the community and discovering – then answering – its most pressing questions. You’ll be the voice and personality behind a local email newsletter, Daily Briefing, where you’ll apply an obsession with engaging readers in their in-box and beyond. Daily Briefing is a daily rundown of the day’s news. You will write and curate must-read stories for this newsletter independently, under a tight deadline. You will also innovate and strategize about growing audience to your newsletter and converting casual readers into paying subscribers. You know how to use tools like SEO and Google Trends to help, but you’ll also be backed by some of the industry’s brightest analysts and digital producers.

For now, you’ll be our only reporter in Freeport and you’ll need to be highly self-motivated and resourceful. This position will be based in Freeport. While you will enjoy work-from-home flexibility, you will regularly meet face-to-face with sources and community members. You may sometimes have to hustle to the scene of breaking news.

The successful candidate will need to:

Possess strong writing, reporting and multi-media skills.
Display excellent news judgment and journalism ethics.
Be a constant generator of story ideas and able to produce content earlyand often.
Write a daily newsletter that will serve as the digital delivery of the day’s most important stories.
Have familiarity with tools to monitor newsletter metrics.
Be nimble and experiment with formats and styles, measuring success and implementing new strategies.
Work effectively with editors, peers, strategists and other colleagues across the company.
Grow newsletter audience and build a loyal following.
Practice effective and ethical use of social media for connecting with sources and reaching new audiences.
Have a knack for SEO-driven headlines and other audience-driving strategies.
Be nimble and able to adjust swiftly to shifting news demands.
Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
Travel quickly to wherever the news occurs or is being disseminated.

Requirements:

College degree or equivalent work experience in local news.
1-3 years of reporting experience, preferably with digital focus.
Commitment to detail, accuracy and fairness.
Command of grammar, AP style, media law and SPJ Code of Ethics.
Ability to multi-task and excel under deadline pressure, using time efficiently.
This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment, post-offer background check.

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. Your resume – one to two pages.

2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

3. Examples of at least five stories you’re proud of. Try to include some that you turned quickly and that used alternative story forms.