Breaking News Night Reporter

The Kansas City Star is looking to hire a breaking news night reporter with strong watchdog skills to join its award-winning news staff.

This beat will combine nightly coverage of breaking news — crime, fires, accidents — with regular quick-turn and occasional long-term watchdog reporting on law enforcement and courts. This reporter will cover a wide variety of news and general assignment stories, with a focus on crime and courts coverage.

The position calls for a quick hand at publishing breaking news online and covering the action on the ground with social media and video. Just as important, the reporter will follow that up with accountability-focused reporting that scrutinizes the actions of public officials and institutions.

The ideal candidate for this position should be an independent, self-starter who knows how to react to breaking news rapidly. They should be comfortable working without constant supervision but also know how to collaborate with others on reporting projects. Experience sourcing stories with court documents and covering crime scenes is preferred.

Our team is committed to doing journalism that holds truth to power and gives voice to the voiceless. If that's the kind of work that motivates you, we'd love to discuss this opportunity.

What you'll bring:

- Focus on stories that build and engage local readership

- Write with power and verve

- Build a network of sources so you can be first and best with stories that inform and engage readers

- Think about audience first and always, with a commitment to tactics that grow readership

- Master engaging multimedia storytelling

- Demonstrate speed, competitiveness and SEO savvy

- Work well in a team environment, both virtually and in person.

- Possess an unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism

- Work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories with urgency

- Be comfortable with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving

- Show excellent news judgment and the ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers

- Familiarity with data and public records

- Proficiency in utilizing AI tools and technologies is highly desired

Minimum Requirements:

- College degree or equivalent work experience

- One year or more of reporting experience

- Have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance required (at least minimum insurance required for the state in which the employee works)

What we’ll bring:

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include health care coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

To apply: Include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work in the link below.