Metro Reporter, Breaking News

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is seeking a driven Metro Reporter. This job focuses on breaking news and the reporter must be flexible and eager to handle general assignments on topics such as crime, lawsuits, traffic, business openings and closings, accidents, obituaries, demonstrations and live updates. There’s also the expectation of additional enterprise and features coverage that explores our unique corner of the country.

Responsibilities

Cover a wide range of topics with the ability to quickly come up to speed on unfamiliar subjects.
Work with an assistant metro editor and the broader metro team to make fast decisions to prioritize news needs, then report and write quickly while being fair, balanced and accurate. The goal is to deliver meaningful and practical news every day to our growing online audience.
Be inclusive in coverage, developing a range of sources and story ideas that fairly represent the rich cultural diversity of our region.
Work with colleagues in Photo, Graphics/Interactives and the Digital Audience Team to coordinate visuals and digital assets for stories.
Be a good team member. This reporter will work with other breaking news reporters. We pride ourselves on trusting and supporting each other and being flexible during unexpected moments of need.

Qualifications

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t 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: At least one year of experience working as a reporter for a newsgathering organization.
Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience.
Requires excellent grammar and language skills, and familiarity with digital news production, social media and analytics.
Must be able to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., under pressure and on deadline.
Must have the ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively.
Be able to work in high-pressure situations when big news hits and deadlines are tight.
Be willing to try new story topics and formats and evaluate and learn from the outcomes of those experiments, always with an eye toward reaching audiences and driving subscriptions.
Cultural competence and awareness of best practices related to inclusive journalism.
Must understand and uphold the standards, ethics and mission of journalism at The Seattle Times.

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.