Newsperson (Public Health Reporter)

New Posted 12 October 2023 | US | The Associated Press (AP)

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press seeks an enterprising reporter with a proven track record of covering health or medicine to join our Health & Science team as a public health reporter. This is a grant-funded position lasting at least two years; an extension is possible contingent on funding. The position can be based in any U.S. city with an AP office. We’re looking for someone who can find stories about how health policy is adopted and implemented on the state and local levels in the U.S. and how that affects people. This is a staff position covered by AP’s agreement with the News Media Guild.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Public Health Collaborations Editor, you will join AP’s Health & Science team, working with AP journalists and editors across the U.S. and with journalists at AP member newsrooms to deliver compelling coverage that breaks news, has impact and is exclusive. Your primary roles will include finding, reporting, and writing public health stories and developing those stories with colleagues working in other formats. Your work will serve a digital-first audience, with the goals of helping readers gain a deeper understanding about how people in the U.S. experience the health care system; exploring the ways in which the system serves different people differently; and holding governments, institutions, health care providers and policymakers accountable for their actions (or inaction).

Preferred Qualifications: You are an excellent reporter and writer with a proven track record of finding and telling compelling, evidence-based, rigorously reported stories. You question assumptions – including your own – and take the extra steps needed to find out what really happened and why. You can turn complex and dense subjects into readable and relevant stories for a general news audience. You work collaboratively with a diverse team of journalists who operate in all formats: text, photo, video, audio, digital/social, interactive and graphics.

We’re looking for someone who has a great news sense and the ability to drive stories that people will want to share and talk about on social media. You’re eager to pursue innovative and inclusive coverage techniques while maintaining AP’s standards for integrity and objectivity. You have the ability to juggle multiple projects across formats and successfully follow complex story lines. As an AP journalist, you must be able to and willing to work at night and on weekends as coverage demands.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, such as at least four years of full-time work as reporter or editor at a daily newspaper, broadcast station, online or digital news outlet or AP bureau.
All applicants must be able to work in the U.S. or be able to gain permission to do so.
Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English. Professional competency in a language besides English is a plus.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $66,657 - $80,714 contingent on experience and other job-related factors. Employees are eligible to participate, according to the terms of the official plan documents, in a 401(k) plan, employer-sponsored health insurance plan, and are eligible for paid time off and holidays in accordance with AP policy.

We will consider strong candidates who do not meet every listed qualification. You may use a cover letter to describe the unique qualifications you would bring to this role.

This is a staff position covered by AP’s agreement with the News Media Guild.

Application deadline is 11:59pm EST on October 26, 2023.


More Job Openings