Arizona-Nevada reporter

Description:

The Center Square is seeking a highly motivated reporter to help lead our taxpayer-focused coverage of state government and other issues in Arizona and Nevada. While this reporter will cover both states, he/she needs to be located near Phoenix. 

We're looking for a passionate journalist who has government reporting experience, and a strong interest and understanding of politics and public policy. The Center Square covers government from a taxpayers’ perspective, not from government’s perspective. We hold government officials accountable for their actions and decisions, and inform our readers how those decisions affect them.

This key role will be joining other state and local news operations as we expand our impact in the states. It reports to The Center Square’s Southwest Regional Editor.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan daily, taxpayer-focuses news coverage from Arizona and Nevada for The Center Square and print affiliates. The Center Square is a newswire and we welcome other media outlets to republish our work.

• Closely monitor legislative activity, governor's offices for any policies that will impact taxpayers, job creators, energy consumers, the economy and public safety. Report on those policies.

• Supplement print reporting with video; be willing to shoot and edit video, and discuss your reporting in front of a camera

• On-the-ground reporting at the Arizona Statehouse during session days and other events 

• Attend news conferences, be prepared to ask probing questions 

• Develop sources, conduct interviews, write 

EXPECTATIONS:

• Have excellent writing and research abilities, and adhere to Associated Press style.

• Take direction well, and be willing to learn from The Center Square's experienced editors and other journalists.

• Live in the region you are assigned. Meet sources both inside and outside of government.

• Look beyond government-issued press releases and reports to determine the real impact of policy on taxpayers and job creators.

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, political science, or a related field is preferred but not required, and at least two years of government reporting experience.

• Proficient in understanding news and moving fast to report on breaking and developing stories 

• Able to navigate the legislative, executive and judicial branches for developing stories 

• Writing approachable news copy to distill complex issues into concise explanations

• Network with sources for news tips and background

• Multimedia reporting focused on utilizing video stream to pull and edit video and audio clips for affiliate use

To apply, please send resume and writing samples Dan McCaleb, executive editor, via email: jobs@franklinnews.org.