Health Reporter

The Philadelphia Inquirer is seeking an experienced journalist to cover health and science in a city that touts 40-plus hospitals, educates the nation’s health-care workforce and is home to a fast-growing center for the biological sciences. We want a versatile reporter who can find stories about how Philadelphia researchers and institutions are advancing scientific discovery and innovation, and hold them accountable for research misconduct. The ideal candidate has experience writing about scientific research and can build sources in academic medicine, the biotech industry and beyond.

In a newsroom committed to charting the future of local news, you will find opportunities to write about the inner workings of powerful institutions and explore the cutting-edge science they’re betting on to build their reputations. You should be enthusiastic about breaking news as well as reporting out enterprise stories that readers will not find anywhere else.

You will be joining a Health and Science desk that is a pillar of The Inquirer newsroom, with a portfolio covering local hospitals and health systems, the business of health care, quality and safety in medicine, public health, medical advances, health-care costs, and more. You must be a team player both within the health team and across the newsroom.

What You’ll Do

Make smart use of different story forms and approaches — explainers, visual stories, digital storytelling, long-form narratives and service journalism — to help our audiences understand and engage with complex topics.
Balance writing both quick-turn stories relevant to audience interests and in-depth enterprise that requires your science expertise, as well as regional and national sourcing.
Identify exclusive scoops and enterprise through your ability to spot trends and collaborate on data-driven reporting and use of public records.
Use social media both as a reporting tool and as a venue for promoting work.
Contribute to an inclusive and positive work environment

Who We’re Looking For

5+ years of reporting experience within a daily news organization who can translate complex science for a general audience, and develop sources inside academia and the biotech industry.
A reporter and wordsmith with fine attention to detail and excellent written and oral communication skills.
A reporter who pays keen attention to the region’s rich diversity of race, economic circumstances, age, sexuality, geography and more.
Enthusiastic on-the-ground reporting and willingness to help out colleagues on and off your own turf.
Ability to meet deadlines and adapt in a daily, unpredictable news environment.