Community Journalist

The (Columbus, Mississippi) Commercial Dispatch is seeking a journalist to join its newsroom. The Dispatch, a family-owned five-day daily, has a long history of producing impactful investigative journalism that provides more context and more sourcing than our competition. While other media companies are pulling back, we are seeking to push forward.

The ideal candidate has a passion for local newsgathering and is comfortable immersing him/herself in this community. Self-motivation is essential. Time management, high productivity, good news judgment and unflagging persistence are also required. Our ideal candidate has at least two years of journalism experience. Photography and infographic creation skills are a plus, though not required.

The right candidate values the impact a committed newspaper can have on the community it serves. Our home is the Golden Triangle, which includes the cities of Columbus, Starkville and West Point. Columbus is a charming river city of 23,000 with an Air Force base, small liberal arts university and rich history. We also maintain a presence – and office – in Starkville, which is 20 minutes away. Starkville is growing rapidly and is home to Mississippi State University.

All members of our newsroom have the ability to – and are encouraged to – pursue projects of personal interest. These can be features, investigative pieces, data-driven pieces, photo essays or even profiles of local personalities. Compelling stories take many forms, and we are open minded.
About The Dispatch

The Dispatch has won General Excellence in both the editorial and advertising divisions of the Mississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest multiple years in a row, but that certainly wasn’t the first time we’ve been recognized. In 2015 we won the Daniel E. Phillips Freedom of Information Award for our investigative journalism work. The following year one of our reporters won the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting. Both awards were given to only one paper of any size state-wide. In 2017, because of our focus on investigative work, we were one of 10 newsrooms selected by Investigative Reporters & Editors to receive complimentary Total Newsroom Training. Three of our staff members are currently participating in the Google News Initiative's Reader Revenue Lab. We like tackling important stories and are building on our successes.
Compensation

Salary range is $34,000 - $45,000 based on experience and skill level. Full benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement plan with employer match, gym membership assistance and other fringe benefits. Hybrid work is available.

If The Dispatch sounds like a good fit for you, email cover letter, resume and writing samples to publisher Peter Imes at pimes@cdispatch.com.