Reporter

Date Posted	April 07, 2026
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	General Assignment
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	Depends on Experience

Description:

Community Newspaper Reporter 

Do you love telling stories that matter in a small town? Are you curious, community-minded and comfortable covering everything from city council meetings to Friday night fundraisers? 

We seek a motivated reporter to cover a diverse range of local activities including sports, local government, community events, business and economic development, and human interest stories reflecting east Linn County, Oregon, people and interests. 

Who we are: 

The New Era has been locally owned by the same family for more than 20 years, and our paper is a trusted voice in the region for generations. We are also looking ahead to an exciting milestone as we prepare to celebrate our 100th anniversary in September 2029.

What we need: 

• Intellectual curiosity about what’s happening around you, always willing to ask the “why” and “how does this affect our readers” questions; the ability to generate story ideas that will captivate and inform readers. 

• The ability to report accurately and with as little personal bias as possible, with strong writing skills to communicate the information you uncover. 

• The ability to shoot photos that are engaging and tell a story (a big part of this job). 

• The ability to build relationships and develop trustworthy sources in the community. 

• Working knowledge of media law. 

• Confidence, humility and empathy in interacting with the public and with news sources. 

• Willingness to live locally and be part of the community: this is not a remote position. 

What we offer: 

• A chance to make a real impact on our communities, who truly appreciate their local paper (we have plenty of evidence). 

• A chance to be part of a tight-knit, collaborative company with strong camaraderie (we have a good time).

• Competitive pay DOE.

• Opportunity for professional growth and advancement.

• Flexible schedule with varied, interesting assignments.

• The opportunity to live and work in one of Oregon’s scenic regions, within two hours of the coast, ski slopes and Portland. Our community is minutes away from lakes and rivers, mountain trails, camping and hiking.

Whether you’re an experienced journalist or an emerging reporter eager to grow, we’d love to hear from you. This is a new position, to be filled as soon as possible. To apply, please send a resume, five or six writing samples and a brief cover letter stating why you think you’d be a good fit. Electronic submission can be sent to office@sweethomenews.com.  Materials can also be mailed to: The New Era Editor, 1313 Main St., Sweet Home, OR 97386. 

Be a voice for this community! Tell the stories that make rural Oregon special.