Local News Reporter

Date Posted	September 08, 2025
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Local News
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	$22 - $24.04/hourly

Description:

Summary:

The Orange County Register is seeking an experienced reporter to join our local news team full-time to cover key cities and important topics 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County is a diverse, innovative community with 3.2 million residents, and we need a strong reporter who sees past outdated perceptions of the county.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 county/city developments. We're looking for journalists with the ability to produce strong enterprise and breaking news for digital and print platforms. You will cultivate sources in person and via social media, write compelling narratives as well as tweets, and be comfortable mining public records for deep investigative pieces.

What you will do:

• Versatility is a must, as stories will cover a variety of topics

• Write on deadline in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to take own photos is a plus

• 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 both in person and 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; Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin top the list but are not the only ones that would be helpful

• 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 range is $22 - $24.04. 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: https://myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/MNG/job/Irvine-California/Reporter_R2554. Along with your resume, please include a cover letter and links or attachments to three clips showcasing your skills and range in the resume section of your application.

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, training sessions, and/or meetings. The employee will be responsible for transporting themselves between different sites as needed

Apply

https://myworkdaycenter.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/MNG/job/Irvine-California/Reporter_R2554