Reporters

Date Posted	September 07, 2023
Industry	Digital Media
Specialty	Local News
Job Status	Full-time

Description:

Signal Akron: Now Hiring Reporters

Signal Akron is hiring reporters. We are looking for beat reporters for government, education, and
public safety/health who will be a critical part of the Akron newsroom's coverage team and report
directly to the editor-in-chief (EIC) and managing editor. Each will be responsible for daily multimedia-
driven coverage that holds officials and policymakers accountable, along with enterprise stories that dig
deep across issues important to Akronites.

Reporters' coverage will be impactful, proactive, rigorous, and responsive to the needs of Akron
residents, particularly those in underserved or underrepresented communities. Reporters will help
citizens understand how systems work so they will be empowered to participate and make informed
decisions. Their work will center the voices of citizens and help ensure community input and priorities
are integral to the news and information Signal Akron produces.

The Akron Newsroom

As a new startup, Signal Akron seeks to draw from the best in the industry to create new, innovative
ways to center community information needs and produce impactful, award-winning journalism. It is the
second in an anticipated statewide network of independent newsrooms from Signal Ohio.

Signal Ohio is a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $15 million so far to support a vision to
give everyone in Ohio the local news and information they need, starting with a robust newsroom in
Cleveland and now Akron. The Akron newsroom will produce high-quality accountability journalism
while working directly with residents to produce and distribute community reporting, employing
innovative models for local journalism that are directly responsive to local information needs. In
addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the newsroom will have community engagement
expertise, multimedia production, and a local Documenters program, which will train and pay Akron
residents to document local public meetings and participate in broader news gathering and distribution
efforts.

Job Responsibilities & Priorities

• Produce a steady stream of local accountability reporting that will serve Akron residents as a primary source of information they need to understand their officials and policymakers and empower them to hold these powerful people to account.
• Deliver a combination of day-to-day coverage and ambitious, high-impact, and authoritative journalism that demonstrates Signal Akron's reporting will empower Akron's residents to make systems and processes work better for them.
• Develop a voice for their coverage that is solutions-focused and inclusive of formats needed to make information accessible to all residents, including guides, explainers, and other service journalism that translates reporting from the newsroom into content that helps people take action.
• Work collaboratively with other Signal Akron reporters to report on ongoing issues that cross disciplines. Work with our multimedia editor/producer and community/service reporter to make sure our content is visual and easy to understand for all our audiences.
• Work with the EIC and managing editor to develop an editorial strategy for the beat and what will be prioritized. This will include producing content for our website, newsletters, social media, and other formats as part of the newsroom's overall mission.
• Work within a daily newsroom operation that is deeply collaborative, relies on teamwork, and centers on a community reporting program that partners directly with residents to help inform coverage priorities.
• Collaborate and learn with the Signal Akron Documenters; leverage the work of the Documenters, along with the newsroom's community gathering spaces to make reporting deeper and more grounded in community voices.

Desirable Skill Sets

• Demonstrated commitment to local, public service journalism with a track record of producing and/or leading impactful reporting.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of Akron neighborhoods and communities and respect for the knowledge community members can bring to the newsroom.
• 5+ years' experience in daily local newsrooms
• Stellar news judgment and strong communication and writing skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines and prioritize work.
• Adept at problem-solving and detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Experience with and/or a strong understanding of building digital audiences
• Experience telling stories on multiple platforms using audio, social media and/or video.
• Entrepreneurial spirit—they can thrive in a startup environment where they are expected to learn as they go, think innovatively, and build things from scratch.
• Ability to work evenings as needed.
• Strong interpersonal/communications skills - willing to negotiate and talk through issues honestly and clearly.
• Ability to maintain confidence when working with sensitive information.
• Ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of individuals internal and external to the newsroom.
• Team player - helps others and is supportive.
• Proficiency in using public records and/or data in your reporting.

Compensation and benefits: These are full-time positions with competitive salaries and benefits, including health care, dental, vision,
life insurance, and 401K match.

Salary commensurate with experience
Signal Ohio is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Signal
Ohio encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages,
disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientation, and marital status to apply.