Senior Reporter/Writer

The Office of Communication Services at Duke University seeks a senior writer to join the award-winning Working@Duke Editorial Team. As an integral member of the communications team, you are a resourceful and collaborative team player who is curious and adept at reporting, interviewing and journalistic storytelling. You have a passion for crafting engaging print and digital narratives that inform, inspire, and foster a strong sense of community among employees. From covering health benefits and professional development programs to penning heartwarming human interest features, your writing will make a significant impact on the lives of 45K employees. Your work will help colleagues connect with Duke’s shared values and mission, and it will showcase the value of working at Duke, which has been recognized among the nation’s top employers by Forbes and Newsweek. The successful candidate will report to the executive director of communications and collaborate closely with other editorial team members and partners in Duke Human Resources to collectively accomplish shared objectives and support communication strategies and plans.

Work Performed:

Report and write short and long-form print and digital stories representing the full range of meaningful work by Duke employees. The content will foster a strong sense of community, helping employees connect with the institution’s values, mission, and each other. A typical workload entails crafting multiple stories for each quarterly print magazine and producing several digital stories on a weekly basis, as well as contributing content to social media channels.
Continuously nurture and utilize one’s own curiosity to propose creative and fresh story ideas each week that capture the contributions of Duke employees, foster a positive work culture, and highlight Duke’s values.
Employ various reporting and research methods to gather background information, historical context, and relevant data about the subject or topic being covered.
Conduct skillful interviews with individuals to “show, don’t tell” by collecting essential details and insights that deepen a story.
Capture captivating photographs to accompany stories, adding visual dimension and enhancing the overall impact of the content.
Write creative copy and captions for social media channels.
Collaborate with the Working@Duke Editorial Team to develop and execute content plans that align with organizational goals and resonate with our diverse audience.
Create communication plans and develop materials to support specific needs as directed.
Develop and maintain professional contacts and affiliations with colleagues across Duke, including University Communications.
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Skills:

Outstanding reporter and writer with a deep understanding of effectively structuring stories for seamless readability. Expertly incorporates essential elements such as engaging "ledes" and informative "nut graphs" to craft compelling narratives that hook readers.
Highly skilled and perceptive interviewer with a talent for delving into intricate details that might hold significant implications for the overall story.
Proposes creative and relevant story ideas that align with Duke’s shared values, strategic objectives, messages, and target audience.
Demonstrates a proactive approach and excels in independent work, effectively handling complex topics while meeting multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
A self-starter who embraces challenges with enthusiasm.
Displays comfort and expertise in navigating social media platforms and utilizing various technologies effectively.
Demonstrates a deep dedication to maintaining accuracy and high standards and understands and uses AP Style.
Thrives in highly collaborative approaches.
Exhibits a genuine desire to consistently learn and grow, striving for continuous improvement in all aspects of the job.

Required Qualifications/Education/Training:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English or a related discipline.
Work requires at least three years of journalism experience with a professional editorial organization. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Application Note:

In your resume or cover letter, please include links or attach three to five examples of your best published work.

About the Office of Communication Services:

The Office of Communication Services in Duke Human Resources manages Duke’s primary communications platforms for employees and supports the communication needs for Duke Human Resources and other Central Administrative Units. Our team is the primary storyteller for the workforce, providing relevant news and information employees can use at work and in life, while building a positive workplace culture and connection to Duke.

Our portfolio:

Working@Duke digital section
Working@Duke print publication (archive site)
Instagram
Facebook
X (formerly Twitter)

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Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.