Food & Dining Reporter

FLORIDA TODAY, part of the USA Today Network, is looking for a food & dining reporter with a sophisticated palate and exemplary writing skills to tell stories about restaurants, food-focused retail stores and businesses, dining trends and people who are part of the food scene on the Space Coast.

The successful candidate must have the experience to speak with authority about dining- both high-end and low-end. They must have the confidence to lead our readers to the best local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bars - and to tell them what up-and-coming chefs and spots to watch for. This is a reporting job, and we expect all stories to be backed up by exclusive reporting.

Daily emphasis will be on digital content that is relevant and compelling to local residents and will keep our audience coming back. The reporter will balance that with high-level journalism and projects that deliver rich insights.

We seek a passionate, focused, and curious reporter and nimble storyteller willing to jump on trends and restaurant/cuisine lists but also engage audiences in the stories and issues behind the food brought to their tables. We will expect breaking news, deep-dive profiles, trend pieces, long-term enterprise, compelling multimedia assets and social engagement. We run a very engaged Facebook group with more than 60K followers. This reporter will be expected to manage that group. There is help in the form of a very plugged-in freelance writer who does restaurant reviews and has a sophisticated understanding of the Brevard dining scene. This reporter will work with that freelancer to ensure a steady stream of stories for our deeply engaged audience.

This reporter will be expected to build relationships with members of diverse communities to deliver food and dining stories that reflect the entirety of our population. The reporter will cultivate an engaging, active, and inclusive social-media presence. The reporter will coordinate with our visuals team but should have basic photo and video skills, and must be comfortable appearing on video, and at personal appearances at food-related events.

We're looking for someone who is creative and curious who can back that up with published work.

Key Considerations:

• Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.

• Curiosity about everything to do with the food and dining scene

• Experience with social media as a tool to build audience and as a source for beat development.

• Experience with and interest in multimedia, including video.

• A self-starter who owns the beat yet works collaboratively with others locally and regionally to meet common goals.

• A journalist committed to values of fairness, diversity, inclusion, and professionalism.

Requirements:

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

• Three to five years of reporting experience in a newsroom.

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

• Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and compassion.

• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.

• Energetic self-starter and a fast thinker who can spot stories that matter.

• Proficiency on social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, X/Threads, Instagram and Reddit, and experience engaging readers in this public space.

• Ability to multitask and excel in a fast-paced environment under deadline pressure.

• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with a team of journalists.

• Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills and knowledge of AP style.

• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.

• Occasional weekend and evening hours are required.

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

• Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer, pre-employment background check, drug screen and motor vehicle record check.

Application Instructions:

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:

• Your resume - one to two pages.

• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job and demonstrates your reporting experience.

• Clips of your work.

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.

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