Business Reporter II

The Montgomery Advertiser/montgomeryadvertiser.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks an ambitious and skilled reporter to break news and contribute original and exclusive enterprise about growth & development, real estate, trending ventures, and local economic trends. The ideal candidate breaks news daily, while delivering enterprise that makes readers more knowledgeable about how shifts in the business community shapes their daily lives, including the job market, neighborhoods and schools. Source development is key on this beat, as is the ability to provide context with every story.

Montgomery is home to a Hyundai Motors plant and landed $1.7 billion in new business in 2022, including an inland port/rail project that will solidify the River Region as a major transportation hub for commerce, including an Amazon inbound cross dock facility.

Depth, accuracy and a talent for great storytelling are vital. Social media fluency is a core requirement. Data skills are a plus. Teamwork is big here, so it's expected you're comfortable working with journalists at all levels across our local, regional and national network. We are a digital-first organization and seek candidates that are comfortable with filing fast and leveraging social media and newsletters to promote their great work.

The Advertiser is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winning news operation that has swept top awards from the Alabama Press Association, Associated Press Media Editors and, most recently, coveted Triple Crown recognition from Associated Press Sports Editors. Our newsroom continually produces stories that earn national acclaim and recognition. We are part of the USA Today Network, which has more than 200 daily news sites across the country.

Responsibilities:

• Leverages community sources, online tools and public records to develop stories about business topics in the Montgomery area.

• Breaks exclusive stories, and provides thoughtful, fact-based analysis and narrative features.

• Works toward becoming the community's leading voice in area of expertise.

• Connects with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, forums, community leadership, etc.)

• Collaborates with digital and print production team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e. photos, videos and graphics). Captures basic photos and video as needed.

• Contributes to coverage of major events and national projects.

• Promotes personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.

• Provides great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 2-5 years' reporting/newsroom experience, coverage of business.

• Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.

• Experience shooting and editing photos and video on an iPhone.

• Strong communication skills, news judgment and headline-writing ability.

• Ability to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure.

• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently.

• Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.

• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1.Your resume - one to two pages.

2.A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

3.Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

Life in Montgomery

Montgomery, Alabama's state capital, lies along the banks of the Alabama River and is home to Maxwell Air Force Base, Hyundai Motors, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Not only is Montgomery an epicenter of civil rights, it stands at the forefront of high technology as the first city in Alabama and the fourth in the Southeastern U.S. to launch an Internet Exchange tech hub. Montgomery is also home to a vibrant, growing downtown and diverse cultural offerings from music to professional baseball.

Montgomery is an evolving city, continually reflecting on its past while trying to determine its future. It's a good time to be here as a journalist - plenty of stories to cover and attention to gain. Come join our close-knit team and grow with us.

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