Breaking News Reporter

About the role

PennLive is seeking a multi‑tasking Breaking News Reporter to strengthen and empower the communities it serves. The reporter will act with urgency, uncover stories others miss, and write about the biggest topics of the day across Pennsylvania.

Responsibilities

• Produce impactful enterprise and breaking‑news coverage that informs and serves the community.
• Conduct follow‑up reporting after tragedies to uncover systemic issues, provide new information, and amplify under‑heard voices.
• Support courthouse and legal reporting by identifying exclusive stories from lawsuits, tracking significant cases through resolution, and explaining their impact.
• Cover public‑safety and criminal‑justice issues as a member of the Public Safety Team, while remaining flexible to report on community controversies and the local impact of statewide and national events.
• Write clear, compelling stories quickly under deadline, shoot engaging vertical video, and efficiently analyze data, public records, and other documents to uncover meaningful stories.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field.
• At least one year of professional journalism experience with a demonstrated ability to report thoroughly and write compelling stories.
• Ability to overcome obstacles, cultivate trusted sources, and ask tough questions in pursuit of the truth.
• Strong news instinct and the ability to identify stories that resonate with readers.
• Proficiency in writing accurately and quickly under deadline, shooting vertical video, and analyzing data and public records.
• Reliable transportation for meeting sources and covering events.
• Submission of writing samples or links to published stories is required.

Pay

The base salary range is $45,000 to $50,000 per year.