Minnesota Child Welfare Reporter

Date Posted	May 16, 2023
Industry	Nonprofit
Required Education	Bachelor's Degree
Telecommute?	Yes
Job Status	Full-time

Description:

Fostering Media Connections, a national nonprofit journalism organization and publisher of The Imprint and Fostering Families Today, is looking for an enterprising reporter to anchor our child welfare beat in Minnesota for The Imprint.

Our virtual but close-knit newsroom is unique. Reporters working from bureaus across the country focus exclusively on children and families involved with the foster care and youth justice systems, producing breaking news, features and in-depth investigative coverage. We produce high-quality news that is regularly co-published by other major media outlets and informs professionals and policymakers across the country. 

There has never been a more important time for in-depth, nuanced reporting about the ways in which government intervenes in the lives of children and families. Our work examines the rapidly changing field of child welfare as it addresses intergenerational trauma, and balances the needs to keep children safe with the necessity of preserving family ties. We highlight harmful practices and expose promising reforms, informing our readers about the field’s most promising advocates, scholars and critics. 

The ideal candidate for our Minnesota Child Welfare Reporter will have some print journalism experience. While we are open to early-career journalists, candidates should feel comfortable obtaining and producing stories from public records, scientific studies and lawsuits. They will be able to interview young people raised in foster care and those who have lost their children with care and sensitivity, while juggling complex legal and social matters with politicians, policy makers and advocates. Candidates must have strong listening skills, and be attuned to the needs of vulnerable populations from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. 

This position’s primary responsibilities will include:

• Producing several stories a month focusing on child welfare issues at the state and local level in Minnesota. 
• Increasing public awareness through reporting on topics that include family preservation, community-based initiatives, the role of relatives in foster care, trauma and mental health care, issues unique to Native American and African American communities, and racial disparities in the child welfare system.
• Ability to work closely with a tight-knit, diverse newsroom in a highly collaborative environment.
• Attending daily news meetings of roughly an hour.
• Working closely with an editor and a copy-editor on each story, which will typically go through several rounds of editing.
• Producing a monthly Minnesota newsletter with our communications team.
• Assisting FMC staff with occasional online or live events focused on Minnesota news and issues.
• Occasional reporting for Fostering Families Today magazine, a publication for foster and kinship caregivers.

Qualifications
We are seeking someone with at least one to three years of journalism experience but are willing to consider budding reporters who have studied journalism at the college and graduate school level. Strong clips are a must for applicants, and a writing test will be required for those seeking employment. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to write clearly and concisely and be dedicated to precision and accuracy. Strong working knowledge of AP Style, LexisNexis and other basic journalism news resources is required, as well as an ability to meet deadlines. Candidates may apply from any part of the country, but residency in Minnesota will be required. 

Above all, we are looking for candidates who are creative, curious, eager and interested in finding and telling untold stories. While some stories will be pitched to the writer, we need a self-starter who will find story ideas on a regular basis.

Fostering Media Connections is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a diverse newsroom. We believe that diversity strengthens the quality of our journalism and our workplace. We strongly encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientations, physical abilities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and national origins to apply. 

Compensation
This position will earn an annual salary of $50,000. FMC offers subsidized health insurance (after 60 days), a matching retirement plan and paid time off.

How to Apply
Please submit the following through our application form: https://airtable.com/shrJ0WaQH2jmllF7Z

• A résumé, and a cover letter.
• Three to five writing clips.
• Two story ideas.
• Three references with contact info.

This position will remain open until filled.