Service Journalism Reporter

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Columbus, GA Full-time Writing / Editing

Posted on November 18, 2022

The Ledger-Enquirer is looking for a collaborative, audience-focused reporter for our service journalism team, whose mission is to help readers navigate life in Columbus and Georgia. These reporters will use engagement tools such as Google Trends to surface and answer questions readers are asking in the moment, will write stories that help readers connect with the news and will create and manage a library of search-friendly evergreen content.

This reporter also will help with breaking news, providing support at times to the primary breaking news reporter or covering stories on their own. They will often be called on to write stories that answer reader questions about major breaking news events.

Experience with audience growth and engagement tactics such as headline writing and SEO is a must. Expertise in a particular subject area is not required, but the successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of what’s important to local readers, preferably earned by working as part of an audience or engagement team at a local news outlet.

The reporter in this role will report to the Southern regional service journalism editor.

Skills needed:

Experience with audience tools such as Google Trends.
Ability to understand audience metrics and the tactics that move them.
Passion for the written word as well as video, audio and motion graphics.
Enthusiasm for experimenting and iterating, quickly and often.
Strong writing and reporting skills.
Excellent news judgment and journalism ethics.
Strong collaborative instincts and a love of teamwork.
Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.
Data reporting experience and ability to work with data visualization tools.
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).

Education & colexperience:

College degree preferred.
At least 1 year of local news experience is preferred, but recent graduates will be considered.

The Columbus metro area is home to about 200,000 residents. Our newsroom is located in the downtown area where delicious restaurants, the Chattahoochee River, museums and other entertainment are easily accessible. Atlanta is only a 90 minute drive north and Fort Benning, one of the Army's largest training sites in the country, is 15 minutes south of downtown. Interested in hiking, rafting, biking and other outdoor activities? There's an abundance of choices depending on your skill level. Columbus State University also attracts thousands of students each year.