The Appleton Post-Crescent, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, is seeking an aggressive, community-focused public safety reporter to join our team.
We are looking for a driven self-starter with a fierce determination to ensure we are ahead on breaking news and to cover crime -- and efforts to combat it -- in a thoughtful, context-filled way. These stories don’t end at a crime scene or in the courtroom. This reporter will write stories that provide context; work to amplify voices from the community, including victims’ experiences; and shed light on root problems – with an eye toward identifying solutions that work.
This is a competitive, fast-paced beat. You may be in court one day, interview a victim's family the next, then crunch numbers on trends and crime statistics. We are seeking a reporter who is comfortable breaking a story online, then adding nuance and facts in real time to build out a story that will provide insight for our community.
This reporter should establish ties and contacts in the Fox Cities communities and have a deep understanding of what residents care about. The ideal reporter is SEO savvy and can spot high-interest topics using social media, Google Trends and other engagement tools. Like others in the Appleton newsroom, this reporter works closely with journalists at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Responsibilities:
- Monitor daily public safety developments
- Quickly respond to breaking news, gathering information from multiple sources and providing real-time updates
- Develop and maintain a network of sources within law enforcement agencies, emergency services, community organizations and advocacy groups to stay informed about ongoing issues and emerging trends
- Tell the stories of those impacted by crime
- Highlight neighborhood efforts to address crime and its impact
- Juggle breaking, daily and in-depth stories
- Use metrics to inform story decisions
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 1-3 years related experience preferred, but recent graduates will be considered.
- Strong communication skills, news judgment and headline-writing ability.
- Ability to multitask and excel in a fast-paced environment under intense deadline pressure.
- Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with a team of journalists.
- Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills and knowledge of AP style.
- Command of principles of ethical conduct.
Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
- Your resume – one to two pages.
- A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
- Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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