Description

The Centre Daily Times is seeking an enterprising, reader-focused reporter who will break news and provide deep coverage of local government and development issues that affect the families, students and taxpayers who live in our region.

We are looking for a local government/development reporter to carry on a strong tradition of accountability reporting from the municipalities that make up Centre County. This beat has exposed Sunshine Act violations, public safety concerns, allegations of misuse of public funds, all while breaking news about what’s coming to the area and how that affects residents.

Journalists at the Centre Daily Times have a strong team mentality. The ability to collaborate and communicate well with colleagues on a daily basis is essential, and you must have a passion for local news. We are part of McClatchy, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States.

We are located in Centre County, Pennsylvania, the home of Penn State University. It’s a unique area that features a college-town setting in State College, which is a bustling community with a rich arts and nightlife scene, surrounded by numerous other municipalities with small town charm and distinct offerings. We’re also only about three hours from Philadelphia and three hours from Pittsburgh. 

In our local government/development reporter, we’re seeking a versatile and resourceful journalist. While attending local government meetings is expected, you won’t be relying on meeting coverage but instead digging into key issues to spotlight problems, highlight solutions and make a difference in our communities.

In this role, you will need to:

• Focus on stories that build readership
• Think about audience first and always, with a commitment to tactics that grow readership.
• Develop connections with key sources we rely on for information, and expand that network to produce complete stories.
• Demonstrate speed, competitiveness and SEO savvy through aggregating and storytelling tools
• Develop engaging multimedia storytelling.
• Work well in a team environment. 

What you'll bring: 
The successful candidate should meet many, though not necessarily all, of the following requirements:

• College degree or equivalent work experience.
• 1-3 years of reporting experience (Minimum years of experience).
• Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance required (at least minimum insurance required for the state in which the employee works).
• Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers.
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
• Ability to work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories.
• Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.

What we’ll bring:
As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. 

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and three to four examples of your best work in the link below.

About McClatchy:

Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 57 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger. 

As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth—a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.