Health Reporter

The Dallas Morning News seeks an enterprising and intrepid Health Reporter to cover one of the most fascinating and dynamic medical markets in the country in Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas.

This reporter will need to understand the nuances of complicated health issues, including abortion, insurance policy, consumer issues, and research, along with how Texas ranks as one of the worst states for health insurance rates in the nation and the impact of industry power players headquartered here such as Tenet, McKesson, and Steward Health Care.

Dallas was recently selected as one of the federal government's biotechnology hubs along with Boston and Washington, D.C., making it a key center for research in the emerging field.

The beat requires a reporter with deep analytical skills and a strong desire to write a compelling mix of consumer, science, watchdog, and people-focused stories that serve readers on multiple platforms in a highly competitive environment. Long-term enterprise stories and daily beat coverage stories are expected.

The ideal candidate would grasp the complexities of the industry and how it is affecting public and private hospitals, health care professionals, employers, insurers and individuals rich and poor.

They will need to pay careful attention to analytics with a focus on online success, prepare for television and radio appearances and find innovative ways to establish their voice as a leader in the field.

Dallas is the hub of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions, surpassing 8 million people and adding more every day. The city is a nexus for finance, manufacturing, transportation, education and research with a diverse and young population that mixes with influential billionaires and daring politicians. The Dallas Morning News is a thriving newsroom and the winner of nine Pulitzer Prizes supported by a local controlling owner that backs important journalism and believes in the value of a free press.

A strong health reporter must be able to:

• Keep up with major news on national issues including abortion, health insurance policy, consumer issues, research and science progress along with data and trends about our local community and state.

• Cover local hospital chains and medical providers

• Develop strong sourcing with health care industry leaders, researchers and experts

• Monitor Congress, the Texas Legislature, federal and local courts for developments and novel cases

• Find individuals in and around Dallas and throughout Texas impacted by changing health policy

• Be prepared to serve as a breaking news reporter focused on medical issues during key events

Responsibilities and duties:

• Plan for both short-term coverage and long-term projects with an eye toward features/enterprise, distinctive journalism that differentiates The Dallas Morning News from competitors.

• Generate content ideas that include an emphasis on the diversity of voices, stories, subjects and perspectives.

• Follow closely and develop insights into analytics.

• Report fairly, accurately and thoroughly, with sharp, compelling writing.

• Take a hands-on approach to breaking news across digital platforms and display a willingness to create content as needed.

• Show strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask on deadline.

• Display exceptional news judgment with the ability to recognize the digital potential of stories that will resonate with our audience.

Job Requirements

Here's our list of preferred skills and experience: (Please note this is not a checklist of requirements, but should be considered as a pool of preferred qualifications. If you can already do some of these things, great. If you're excited about figuring out how to do all of them, great! We'd love to hear from you either way.".)

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or related fields or relevant experience.
• A minimum fiive years of related reporting experience .

Skills:

• Proficient in learning digital content management tools

• Use social media for newsgathering and audience development

• Basic photo editing

• Comfort with fast-paced incremental storytelling (e.g., producing social media updates, updating online stories)

• Basic data literacy and analysis and ability to build simple charts, graphs, maps with in-house tools

• Demonstrated ability to gather, edit and post basic video and audio

• Demonstrated ability to work remotely via smartphone or laptop computer

• Demonstrated ability to interpret audience analytics to inform newsgathering decisions

• Understanding of platforms and audiences and ability to compose stories appropriate to the platform of publication (e.g., voice, style, formatting, hyperlinks)

• Basic knowledge of SEO and social headline writing techniques

• Use accepted newsroom tools for planning, authoring, communicating, etc.

• Collaborate effectively with team members and across newsroom teams

• Spanish language skills are a plus.

A diverse newsroom best serves our community that fosters an inclusive work environment for people from all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.

The Dallas Morning News has a distinguished history of journalistic excellence, having won nine Pulitzer Prizes. For more than 137 years, The News has been committed to high standards as it covers one of the most important and vibrant markets in the country. North Texas often leads the country in population growth and is frequently on the shortlist for some of the largest world headquarters relocations

Benefit Offerings:

Internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Internal Culture Committee

Leadership Development Programs

Annual Unconscious Bias Training

Flexible Work Schedules

12 weeks of Parental Leave

Monthly Webinars addressing Health & Wealth for all employees

Medical/Dental and Vision insurance

MDLive Telemedicine 24/7/365 access to board-certified doctors via computer or phone

Onsite Fitness Center

Retirement benefits, including employer contributions

Employee Assistance Program

18 Paid Time Off Days

9 Paid Holidays

8 Hours Community Service Time Off

Pet Insurance