Two of my most favorites words (besides “free food”) are: We’re hiring!
So if you care passionately about informing readers about health-related topics and giving Milwaukee residents the information they need to navigate complicated systems, then the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service wants to hear from you.
We seek a reporter who can dig into issues such as the city’s ongoing lead crisis, examine Milwaukee’s ongoing rise in violence from a public health perspective and report on how the pandemic continues to disproportionately affect our communities.
The bulk of your time will be spent serving as the newsroom’s health and communities reporter. But you also will have mini-beats as our newsroom is small yet mighty. In addition, you will be a key contributor to News 414, which delivers resources to community residents via texts.
What we expect from you
You need to be able to connect readers to resources that help them better navigate their lives while also ensuring that the ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things in the community are covered.
Because we serve communities that have been misrepresented, ignored or only get media attention when there is crime and conflict, NNS has a three-pronged editorial agenda. We celebrate the resilience of residents by consistently spotlighting the good works of our community leaders and organizations. We educate our readers by connecting them to resources that can help uncomplicate their busy lives. And we illuminate through good shoe-leather watchdog reporting issues that create much-needed dialogue while holding institutions and leaders accountable.
This job requires curiosity, creativity and tenacity. We seek reporters who have initiative, resolve and the willingness to dig deep while simultaneously centering the voices of communities of color into their stories. We are not looking for stenographers who summarize meetings or rewrite news releases. Instead, we seek journalists who can connect the dots and deliver insightful stories that leave our readers better informed.
What you can expect from us
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS) is a small but mighty nonprofit newsroom that serves the city’s Black and Latinx communities. Through our website, e-newsletters and News414 texting service, we report on the ordinary people who do extraordinary things, connect readers with resources they need to better their lives and we serve as a ferocious watchdog for our audience.
Our readers are our neighbors and filling their information needs is our top priority. We are an editorially independent project of Marquette University, which provides significant in-kind support and have offices in the Diederich College of Communication.
We consider our newsroom staff to be family and value collaboration, communication, creativity. We hire people for who they are … and for what they can become. We want everyone to win.
What makes an outstanding candidate
You’re a good fit if:
- You have a demonstrated commitment to the use of investigative journalism and you live to develop and execute sustained, powerful stories that spur reform.
- You are organized and can handle multiple projects under tight deadlines.
- You have a collaborative spirit and want to work with a team to give central city Milwaukee residents the journalism they want, need and deserve. You believe that we are all stronger together.
- You believe that legacy models for local media’s business and journalism are broken and that new approaches are needed to serve the public and our democracy.
- You have sharp news judgment and have a record of detailed reporting and powerful storytelling.
- You are obsessed with accuracy and transparency.
- You have adept interviewing skills: This reporter will need to talk to high-level officials and neighborhood residents.
- You have some proficiency – or at least interest – in working with data and public records.
- You are dedicated to broader team goals. Our team collaborates on many levels, from producing strong visuals and developing promotion plans for our stories to evaluating audience engagement and hosting events.
- You have strong people skills and an affinity for working with others.
Audio or video reporting skills are a plus.
We know no one is perfect
We expect great things. But we know no one can have all the skills listed above. So apply anyway.
We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans and people with disabilities. We believe that a newsroom that includes a broad range of life experiences will ultimately produce better journalism.
What we want to see from you
- Your resume
- A cover letter telling us why you are the right person for our team. In your letter, pitch a story you would want to pursue on your first day at NNS.
- Links or PDF files of at least three examples of your best work.
How much does the position pay?
The salary range for this position is $33,500 – $35,000 plus health benefits (https://www.marquette.edu/hr/employeebenefits.shtml)
Have questions?
You can reach out to Executive Director Ron Smith and discuss this position. He can be reached at ronald.smith@marquette.edu
Now go ahead and apply
To formally apply, please click this link https://employment.marquette.edu/postings/17364
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