Reporter

Montclair Local seeks an experienced reporter to cover the people, institutions and decisions that shape life in Montclair. This reporter will produce a mix of breaking news, accountability reporting, enterprise stories and explanatory journalism focused primarily on local government, public education and other civic institutions.

At its core, this role is about helping residents understand how their community works and holding those in power accountable for the decisions they make on the public's behalf.

The reporter will identify stories that matter to Montclair residents, whether they emerge from a council agenda, a school board meeting, a public records request, a neighborhood concern or a tip from a community member. They will be expected to move quickly on breaking news while also pursuing deeper reporting that uncovers problems, explains complex issues and reveals information that would otherwise remain hidden from public view.

Many of the topics this reporter covers will involve budgets, public policy, contracts, governance, regulations and other processes that can seem opaque or inaccessible. The successful candidate will be curious about how institutions work and committed to translating complexity into clear, engaging journalism that helps residents understand not only what is happening, but why it matters and how it affects their daily lives.

This reporter will serve as a watchdog for the community, scrutinizing public officials and institutions, following the money, questioning assumptions and seeking answers that are not always readily available. They will approach reporting with the belief that residents deserve meaningful transparency from the institutions that govern their lives and spend their tax dollars.

The reporter will take ownership of the presentation of their work across platforms, including writing strong headlines, identifying visual and multimedia opportunities, and helping ensure stories reach audiences through newsletters, social media and other distribution channels.

As a community-centered newsroom, Montclair Local values engagement alongside reporting. The reporter may participate in public events, listening sessions, community conversations and other efforts designed to strengthen relationships between the newsroom and the communities it serves.

The ideal candidate is an enterprising journalist who is equally comfortable covering breaking news, digging through public records, cultivating sources, explaining complicated issues and producing journalism that makes local government and public institutions more understandable, transparent and accountable.

Responsibilities

• Produce between four to six news stories per week.
• Communicate about technical topics, or those steeped in the procedure, process and bureaucracy attached to government and education.
• Serve as a watchdog for the Montclair community, making government more transparent and holding power to account questioning assumptions and seeking out answers that arent freely or easily given.
• Conceive, source and pitch stories that will engage readers, answering pressing questions.
• Develop and cultivate sources and engage in investigative reporting.
• Commit to principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, with practical application to day-in, day-out community journalism.
• Take ownership of the presentation of material online writing strong headlines, seeking out or creating accompanying photo/video to accompany reporting and amplify on social platforms.
• Play a role in some community-facing events and engagement efforts on behalf of Montclair Local.
• Participate as a member of the reporting team by contributing to brainstorming sessions, coverage plans and meetings.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of six years journalism reporting experience.
• Experience covering local government and education issues.
• A sound understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure.
• An ability to cultivate sources to break news and drive coverage that differentiates our organization from competitors.
• Experience covering breaking news, public safety and court reporting.
• An understanding of accountability and solutions journalism, with specific ideas about how to pursue both in Montclair.
• An ability to work independently under deadline pressure and prioritize tasks appropriately
• Demonstrated commitment to an equity lens in every aspect of reporting
• Self-starter with proven ability to meet deadlines and pay close attention to detail and fact-checking
• Experience with content management systems and social media channels.
• Good time management and organizational skills

To apply: All applications should include a cover letter, resume and examples of journalism that show your ability to do accountability reporting. Send them to ... with "Reporter position" in subject line.

Montclair Local Nonprofit News, Inc. (Montclair Local) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Montclair Local are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.