Summary:
The Orange County Register is seeking an experienced reporter to join our local news team full-time to cover politics, education and other key local issues in the area. Orange County is a diverse, innovative community with 3.2 million residents, and we need a strong reporter who sees past outdated perceptions of the county.
This reporter should be aggressive and resourceful while being a watchdog, keeping an eye on public officials and school districts. We're looking for journalists with the ability to produce strong enterprise and breaking news for digital and print platforms. Our ideal candidates can cultivate sources, write compelling narratives, cut through political noise and jargon to translate how the news of the day affects OC residents and spot trends in the county’s school districts. A candidate should be comfortable mining public records for deep investigative pieces and be eager to work in a collaborative environment.
What you will do:
Be versatile, as stories will cover a variety of topics
Write on deadline in a fast-paced environment
Produce stories that are assigned, and be able to pitch story ideas on a regular basis
Research and develop stories to the utmost accuracy
Cultivate sources in person and through other avenues, including via social media
Understand and use company-provided hardware, software and cloud-based equipment and systems for company business and tasks
Discuss stories throughout the process with the assignment editor, including (but not limited to): idea development, overcoming hurdles, editing, strategy for presentation and analysis of analytics
Work with the photo and graphics teams to ensure exploration of all the visual ways stories can be told or enhanced
Collaborate with other Register local reporters in a positive culture of teamwork
What you will bring:
Strong news judgment and a drive to compete
Ability to write clean concise copy that draws readers in, including nut graphs and online headlines for SEO
The skill to mine human sources, documents and data, including a facility for mining public records
The ability to juggle multiple stories of varying complexity, from quick news posts under intense deadline pressure to daily news stories and longer-term enterprise
Proficiency at using the web and social media to report stories and to share them
Facility with multiple languages is a plus
Ability to take own photos is a plus
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
At least two years of professional journalism experience; prior local government reporting experience preferred
Benefits and Compensation:
The hourly wage is $24.04 + cell phone stipend. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to geographic location, education, work experience, time in role, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, the Company offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 401k, as well as paid time off and select paid holidays (all benefits are based on eligibility). Please click the following link for more detailed information: http://www.mybensite.com/mng
Who we are:
In 2016, the Southern California News Group (SCNG) rapidly became a major U.S. news organization bringing together prominent publications like the Orange County Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise under the MediaNews Group umbrella. SCNG has become the largest news content provider in the five-county Los Angeles metropolitan area, boasting a leading circulation nationwide with 11 daily newspapers and over a dozen community weeklies. Our mission is to connect communities by providing readers with top-notch local news coverage and offering advertisers unparalleled access to a diverse and engaged audience. No matter the distribution vehicle - newspaper, magazine, mobile, online - SCNG's in-depth reporting on local news, politics, sports, and entertainment attracts a highly desirable audience of over 8.1 million adults weekly. This makes SCNG the leading local news provider and an indispensable marketing solution for Southern California advertisers.
“3x Built In Best Places to Work Winner - 2023, 2024 & 2025”
EEO Statement:
We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
How To Apply:
Please submit an online application along with your resume for this position here. Along with your resume, please include 3 - 4 samples showcasing your best work.
Closing Date:
Continuous recruitment until the position is filled
Conditions of Employment:
A full pre-employment background check and MVR will be conducted as part of the selection process. Must be willing to submit and pass the necessary required checks
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation
Travel – This position entails occasional driving for work assignments, in-person training sessions and/or meetings. The employee will be responsible for transporting themselves between different sites as needed
Must be available for shift work. May be required to work various hours for coverage outside of normal business hours
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