Reporter jobs in Iowa City, IA

Reporter – Investigations

Summary: Gathers and writes a variety of news and features stories using advanced database and other investigative tools centered around government/public affairs reporting while working to engage community in innovative ways. This reporter should be comfortable covering statewide and regionally-focused enterprise stories and is able to juggle daily and enterprise reporting on a regular basis. This position provides content for online and print platforms on varying deadlines.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and reports local investigations that are impactful to the audience.
• Mine tips, sources, data and public records requests to pinpoint issues of significant local impact while focusing on solutions.
• Routinely making and tracking FOI requests and gathering documents related to investigations.
• Routinely reviewing data sets looking for possible trends and stories.
• Building data sets as needed through the collection of documents or information not already in database format.
• Use of computer assisted reporting tools such as Microsoft Access, SQL, R, and other tools that help analyze data sets to glean information.
• Strong understanding of putting intermediate topics into context and writing clearly and concisely. Tracks trends on topical area and develops and cultivates sources (i.e. people, records, databases, etc.) across a wide variety of interests.
• Monitors public agendas of government bodies and writes about the events, explaining the impacts through eyes of those impacted.
• Maintains a list of story ideas relevant to readers with emphasis on original enterprise stories that set an agenda for the city, county, region and/or state. Takes ownership of topical area(s). Is recognized as the in-house expert in topical area of expertise.
• Understands digital mindset and uses analytics and metrics to extend reach of work.
• Uses solid news judgement, strong writing skills to frame stories to regional audiences.
• Can shoot video and still pictures as necessary while gathering proper facts and details. Candidate is responsible for performing basic video editing and web publishing.
• Effectively communicates with visual team when added level of photos/videos is required.
• Passionate about explanatory style and solutions-oriented reporting and uses alternative story forms to effectively tell stories.
• Identifies opportunities for using a variety of ways of storytelling (video, audio, pictures, text, etc.) and regularly finds opportunities to puts the ideas into practice.
• Comfortable hosting/moderating in-person and online panel discussions as required
• Uses social media and newsletters to help build audience.
• Demonstrates proficiency in using existing and new tools to gather, display and report content and also present news in context. Attends training to learn and apply these tools.
• Adheres to all professional and company policies and ethical standards.

Job skills & attributes: Ideal candidate will be a flexible, self-motivated, creative go-getter and problem solver who works well on a team with varying abilities. Candidate must display technical aptitude and have strong ability to write and report well and distill complex subjects into understandable, accessible elements. Must have empathy and toughness and be a good listener. Must work well with others and be attentive to follow-up with sources and customers. Candidate possesses basic video and photography skills, but always has desire to learn new skills.

Minimum Requirements: Undergraduate degree in journalism, English or related course of study. Must have valid driver's license and history of safe driving habits. Candidate must demonstrate ability to work quickly and accurately and must have ideas on how to present news in an ever-changing media landscape. Approximately 2 to 5 years experience in a multimedia newsroom is required.

Salary: Regular/Hourly 40 hours.

EOE. Pre-Employment drug screen and background & driving record checks required.