Black Culture Reporter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking a Black Culture Reporter to write compelling news and enterprise stories that explore and explain how Atlanta's unique Black culture shapes life here and influences the region, nation, and the world.

Atlanta's Black culture offers unique opportunities to tell powerful stories. This Southern metropolis is a hub for Black entrepreneurs, entertainers, global immigrants, creatives, outdoor enthusiasts, founders, foodies, activists, influencers and dreamers, all eager to reshape America.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution offers a unique lens on how Black culture has shaped the region and the country, and how this will continue in the years ahead.

With a fearless attitude, stylistic flair, and aggressive nose for finding unique stories, this reporter will tell our readers how ATL's Black culture is expressed in our diverse region and across the nation, including through music, traditions, film, performance, and storytelling, but also technology, politics, business and leadership.

The reporter will also tell stories about underrepresented communities within Black culture, look at the contradiction of being a city of Black opportunity and severe income inequality, as well as how emerging social trends are expressed through the lens of the Atlanta aesthetic.

The candidate should also bring a sophisticated understanding of Black culture, tradition, and the arts, broadly defined - and how they intersect with history, politics, celebrity culture, race, power, money, and identity - both locally and nationally.

The ideal reporter will be an informed and engaged journalist with a proven ability to write compelling stories, profiles, and other forms of content.

This writer will provide a mix of stories that include deeply-reported personal and business profiles; uniquely Atlanta stories like how (or perhaps if) Black culture shows up on the Atlanta Beltline; identifying the new generation of civil rights leaders while continuing to honor legacy heroes still active today; and news of both national and local cultural flashpoints, from what Black women in Atlanta think about Jada Pinkett-Smith's new book, to asking if restaurant dress codes in Atlanta are aimed at excluding Black professionals.

Key Requirements

Demonstrates strong news judgment and clear ability to quickly develop reader-focused story ideas.
Displays depth as a reporter and capability of delivering stories without reporting gaps.
Has ability to juggle priorities and assignments.
Collaborates effectively with others.
Uses time effectively, meeting deadlines and producing an acceptable volume of work.
Demonstrates ability to break exclusive stories.
Shows capacity to work on a range of topics and quickly gain sufficient knowledge.
Generates work that is balanced, fair, accurate and complete, incorporating, where appropriate, a diverse range of sources. Copy should not contain errors of fact or judgment and should not include any issue of bias.
Handles other assignments as needed, showing flexibility and adaptability.
Engages editors on best ways to present stories on digital, print, social media, and podcast platforms.

The ideal candidate will have a style that informs and educates readers in relatable terms, keeping readers - rather than sources and politicos - in mind. The position may require some travel throughout the state to report stories.

A strong grounding in journalism, including interviewing, documents reporting and journalistic ethics, is required.

Position Requirements

Experience: Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience OR 6 years with no Bachelors OR up to 2 years with a Masters degree.

Looking For a Candidate Who

Displays a clear understanding of source development and beat maintenance.
Displays a clear ability to develop strong, reader-focused story ideas and write about complex concepts with clarity and authority.
Knowledge of spreadsheet and database programs a plus, but not required.
Demonstrated ability to be highly organized and, when warranted, manage and juggle multiple stories simultaneously.
Must have strong skills in communicating and collaborating with editors and colleagues.
Capacity to shoot own photographs when needed.
Demonstrated ability to work in digital media.
Permanent residence in metro Atlanta required
Proven record of time management and productivity to succeed in a remote work environment required.
Excellent communication skills with a collaborative attitude.