Service Journalism Reporter

McClatchy Media is seeking an audience-focused reporter to join its collaborative and hard-working News & Observer newsroom as a service journalism reporter.

The reporter will be based in Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina, joining a reporting group that is fun, team-oriented and always looking for new ways tell the unique stories of the Triangle region.

The service journalism team is focused on utility journalism with a mission to help local readers navigate day-to-day life. Service journalists use an accessible approach to write explainers, Q&As, fact checks and answer questions locally trending online. Reporters in this role may also contribute to breaking news coverage.

Expertise in a particular subject area is not required, but this job centers on covering grocery stores and grocery industry trends, as well as restaurant openings and closings, and other retail news.

The reporter in this position will write frequently. They will receive daily assignments and cultivate and pitch their own ideas. The candidate must have the ability to work under the pressure of quick, daily deadlines.

McClatchy Media’s journalists are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage AI and other automation to enhance and elevate their work and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on source-building and high quality, deeply reported journalism.

We have fun, and we write on the news, covering a little bit of everything. Here are just a few of the team’s stories:

• Beloved Triangle restaurant will move after nearly 30 years. When it will open
• New details about major Crabtree department store renovation
• Forgot to scan items at an NC grocery store? You could face criminal charges
• Parking to shop or dine at North Hills could now come with fines: New rules
• New report compares prices of NC grocery stores. Which is the cheapest?
• NC public radio & TV stations lost federal funding last year. How are they now?

In this role, you will need to:

• Pitch stories that are off the beaten track and will resonate with readers across our region.
• Report and write stories quickly in user-friendly formats.
• Find questions the community is asking and figure out the answers.
• Collaborate with other journalists from across the newsroom on major news events.
• Demonstrate versatility and initiative.
• Work in a team environment, both virtually and in person.

Must have:

• 1-3 years of reporting or writing experience.
• A college degree or work equivalent.
• Strong reporting and writing skills.
• Flexibility and speed in writing to respond to evolving news events.
• Excellent news judgment and journalism ethics.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance required (at least minimum insurance required for the state in which the employee works).

Nice to have:

• Willingness to do some multimedia storytelling, including recording vertical video.
• Familiarity with Google Trends, social media platforms, public records requests and data.
• Familiarity with measuring and tracking success using metrics and analytics.
• A track record for innovation, learning and using new skills and technologies, especially AI.

What we'll bring:

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

About Raleigh: Raleigh is located in the heart of North Carolina, conveniently situated between the state’s awe-inspiring mountains and gorgeous beaches. The Triangle, made up of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding towns, offers an excellent quality of life. The proximity to major universities and Research Triangle Park a range of activities.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, 3-6 work samples for full consideration. References may be requested.

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month. The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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