Mental Health Reporter

The Seattle Times is seeking a reporter to join a team focused on covering mental and behavioral health. The Mental Health Project is a community-funded project in its third year. It has a track record of success including driving policy and legal change, and reducing stigma around mental health concerns.

This is a dynamic role that includes the opportunity to report stories across the behavioral health spectrum and work with community members to develop innovative content. Previous experience covering mental health is helpful but not required – most important is the ability to delve into government and policy decisions, and the range to write everything from feature stories to investigations.

We're looking for an experienced reporter who can use sophisticated interviewing, investigative and database skills to illuminate problems and find the most promising solutions. We want you to use empathy to bring new voices to our coverage and to coordinate closely with photographers and graphic artists to add impact to your work. Successful candidates will have an understanding and respect for the complexities of covering mental health and an enthusiasm for reducing stigma. Visit seattletimes.com/mental-health to get a sense of the team’s work.

Responsibilities:

Be curious and prepared to read widely about mental health. Be ready with a diverse, ever-growing story list that mixes daily stories with longer-term enterprise, solutions and watchdog pieces.
Report and interact with community members with humanity: Use empathetic interview techniques to gain a better understanding of your story and the people in it.
Write with authority based on understanding of your subject matter. Write with a flair that shows your excellent command of language. Self-edit for crisp, clean copy on multiple platforms.
Take on new challenges. Produce enterprise stories and stay ahead of news by anticipating or uncovering developments.
Dig! Be comfortable filing public records requests and flexing your investigative muscles on a daily basis.
Collaborate with reporting teams around the newsroom, where issues of mental and behavioral health intersect with subjects like education and homelessness.
Work closely with photographers and graphic artists to illustrate and produce packages with humanity and impact.
Prioritize inclusive coverage, developing a range of sources and project/story ideas that represent the rich cultural diversity of our region.
Engagement is baked into our DNA, so it should be part of your reporting. It might include public (or Zoom) speaking, facilitating conversations in person or on social media or other events. We’re interested in experimenting, so we want your creative ideas for how we can better interact with our community.
Be a good team member. We pride ourselves on trusting and supporting each other, and being flexible during unexpected moments of need.
Demonstrate unimpeachable ethics, accuracy, journalistic standards and familiarity with inclusive journalism practices.

This position is part of a community-funded initiative and is funded until September 2025, with the possibility of renewal after that time.

Qualifications:

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile does not match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives.

Experience: A minimum of three years' experience at a metropolitan daily news organization.
Education: College graduate or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Decipher complicated policy documents and understand medical terminology to the extent needed to gain full understanding of the subject matter. Experience filing and tracking public-records requests is preferred.
It is our job to reach underserved communities, many of which include immigrants. So fluency in a language other than English is an advantage.

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $60,000 to $101,500. We typically pay between $60,000 to $85,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance
Employee assistance program
Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
401(k) plan with employer match
10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
9 paid holidays
Internet stipend for predominately remote employees
Subsidized transit cards
Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
Wellness program
Parental leave options

Please Note: This position requires both a pre-employment drug screen (excluding cannabis) and a criminal background check once an offer has been made. As a union-represented position, you will also be required to join a union and pay regular membership dues.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.