Jobs and Economy Reporter

The Arizona Republic|azcentral.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a reporter interested in covering jobs and the economy. Phoenix is a leading hub for high tech and innovation and soon will be home to one of the world’s leading chip manufacturers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Our audience is hungry for news about jobs and our major employers and tech stalwarts, including TSMC, Intel, Google's Waymo, Boeing, Amazon and Apple. Grocery store mergers, business growth/downsizing, workforce development opportunities and pocketbook news draw huge interest because they affect people where they live.

Versatility is essential. We need a reporter who can cover hiring and wages, business ups and downs and the cultures of the companies that drive the Arizona economy. We need a reporter who can bring skills gaps and employers’ stress about not finding enough workers down to a human level. The reporter also will explore inflation, minimum wage, interest rates and other economic data in a way that resonates with non-economists.

The reporter will work on a team with others covering business and development topics, so communication and collaboration are critical skills.

The position comes with strong onboarding support, training opportunities and limitless career advancement.

Responsibilities:

Create content (articles, videos, photos and social media posts) about local news that accurately informs and engages key audiences and platforms.
Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
Produce watchdog journalism that leads to change.
Produce storytelling journalism that meets audience needs and interests on multiple platforms.
Contribute to the community’s greater good through impactful journalism.
Act as a public ambassador through community outreach.
Work toward becoming the community’s leading voice for news and issues.
Work with editor to evaluate what's working and what's not and develop ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
Collaborate with content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e., photos, videos and graphics).
Promote personal brand, colleagues’ brands and the institutional brand. Plan and execute engagement opportunities to reach audiences through content, community events and social media.
Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

Requirements:

Bachelor's or master’s degree in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Two years of reporting experience in a newsroom.
Strong communication skills, news judgment and headline-writing ability.
Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and compassion.
Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
Energetic self-starter and a fast thinker who can spot stories that matter.
Proficiency on social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, X/Threads, Instagram and Reddit, and experience engaging readers in this public space.
Ability to multitask and excel in a fast-paced environment under deadline pressure.
Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with a team of journalists.
Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills and knowledge of AP style.
Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
Fluency in Spanish a plus.
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 post-offer, pre-employment background check, drug screen and motor vehicle record check.

Application Instructions:

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:

Your resume – one to two pages.
A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job and demonstrates your reporting experience.
Clips of your work.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.