ARLINGTON ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTER

Location: Dallas, Texas, United States | Full-time

About the role

KERA is hiring a creative, enterprising Government Accountability Reporter dedicated to high-impact journalism in the Arlington area of North Texas. The reporter will focus on holding people and organizations in power accountable through consistent coverage of the Arlington City Council and other city entities. The reporter will also focus on the lived impact of city policies and services with an eye to the growth and changing demographics in the region and the public institutions that play a defining role in Arlington life.

Serving the country’s fourth-largest media market, KERA reaches more than 5 million people monthly through KERA TV, KERA News, KXT, WRR and The Denton Record-Chronicle as well through national shows Think and From the Top. For more than 65 years, North Texans have turned to KERA as a destination for community engagement and lifelong learning.

Responsibilities

• Develop distinctive audio and digital stories focused on the KERA listening area, with statewide and national context and impact.
• Focus on accountability journalism with high impact and deep substance.
• Use data and public records to find, inform and tell stories.
• Develop and maintain broad ranges of sources representing the diverse North Texas community as related to Arlington news.
• Use social media to gather news, shape and promote coverage and build relationships and audience.
• Deliver stories that are accurate, fair, meticulously reported and produced, and provide context.
• Work with the digital team to create stories that engage audiences.
• Collaborate with KERA’s team and partners to build expertise, including through training opportunities, contribute compelling ideas and experiment with storytelling techniques.
• Fill in on newscasts as needed and cover breaking news in North Texas and beyond, sometimes outside the scope of the beat. This includes a rotating on-call schedule and work outside the standard 9-5 business hours.
• Engage with the public in on-air, digital and in-person activities, including actively participating in KERA fundraising campaigns.
• Work in a manner consistent with KERA’s mission, vision and values; maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.
• Participate in fundraising activities as needed and assigned.

Requirements

• Passion for accountability journalism.
• Undergraduate degree in journalism or related field.
• Demonstrated research, writing, and reporting skills.
• The highest journalistic and ethical standards, with dedication to accuracy, fairness and attention to detail.
• Ability to generate dynamic creative story ideas and cultivate sources.
• Eagerness to explore and develop innovative digital, social and video skills.
• Agility to shift journalistic modes quickly and nimbly: from deadline reporting to developing explainers to deep investigative work.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity in reporting and sourcing.
• Knowledge of Associated Press style, ability to exercise sound news judgment and follow KERA/NPR editorial standards.
• Reliable transportation required for assignments/activities that involve work outside of the office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong audio reporting and production skills, and comfort behind a microphone.
• Public radio experience.
• Three or more years of professional journalism experience.
• Deep knowledge of the people, cultures, issues, and geography of North Texas.
• Proficiency or fluency in a second language such as Spanish.
• Experience with one or more of the following: multimedia production, particularly photography or video; working with one or more content management systems; other relevant technical expertise.

Pay

$60,000 - $68,000 annually, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Generous vacation (3 weeks), sick (8 days), personal time (2 days) and holidays (11).
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance.
• KERA-paid short and long-term disability, basic life insurance and AD&D insurance.
• Flexible scheduling and hybrid work environment.
• 401k plan with KERA-contribution after 6 months.
• Robust employee assistance program available to the employee and all members of their household.
• Strong company culture focused on connection, belonging and professional growth.

Schedule

This is an FLSA classified non-exempt position and is eligible for overtime. The position directly reports to the Collaborations Editor. We expect that this position will work out of our Dallas or Fort Worth Report office at least 40% of the time (equivalent to 16 hours per week). Time in office requirements are subject to change based on the needs of KERA and/or the position.