Contributor

About the Role

We're looking for contributors—reporters and writers who want a standing relationship with a newsroom, on their own schedule. LINK Media publishes LINK nky, covering Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties, and Cincinnati CityBeat, the region's arts and culture alt-weekly. We're hiring for two distinct beats, each suited to different skill sets.

Track One: Civic & Government — LINK nky

We need contributors to cover city councils, fiscal courts, school boards, planning and zoning commissions, and public meetings across Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. This role is ideal if you:

• Can read an agenda packet before the meeting and identify the key item
• Are comfortable approaching elected officials for follow-up questions
• Can file clean copy on deadline the same night or the next morning
• Understand that a zoning variance may be the biggest story of the week
• Know the difference between what was voted on and what was said

Bonus if you: already know the NKY municipal landscape, can read a budget document, or have filed an open records request under KRS 61.870.

Track Two: Arts & Culture — CityBeat

CityBeat has covered Cincinnati's music, theater, visual art, film, food, and nightlife since 1994. We need contributors who are already active in the scene and can write about it with a distinct point of view. This role is ideal if you:

• Have a defined beat within the scene (e.g., a genre, discipline, neighborhood, or community)
• Can turn around a preview quickly when a tour date is announced
• Know the difference between a profile and a favor

Bonus if you: shoot your own photos, have relationships with local venues and galleries, or cover an underrepresented corner of the scene.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned stories and pitch additional stories in your areas of interest
• Publish digital and multimedia reports and creative stories
• Accept assignments and follow up on news tips
• Maintain strong journalistic integrity and creativity
• Keep notes and audio recordings from stories and sources for review
• Collaborate with the community editor and executive editor
• Hit deadlines or communicate early if you can’t
• Disclose conflicts of interest before filing (e.g., personal ties to subjects)

Requirements

• Experience or education as a news reporter
• Strong writing and speaking skills
• Multimedia knowledge (websites, photo, audio, video editing)
• Comfortable in social, government, and political settings
• Reliable transportation (both beats require in-person attendance)

Benefits

• Per-story rates
• Bi-weekly pay for published stories
• Editorial support and mentorship to grow as a writer
• Flexibility to write without full-time hours
• Retain ownership of your byline and clips
• Opportunities for growth and advancement

Pay

Compensation is per-story, with bi-weekly payments for published work.

Schedule

Flexible, contractor-based hours. You set your own schedule while meeting deadlines.

About Us

Mission: LINK Media strengthens vibrant communities through independent, sustainable local journalism.

Guiding Principles:

• Solutions-Focused: We dig deeper to inform our audience about how our community might solve its biggest issues.
• Unapologetic Community Fans: We believe in our community’s potential and play an active role in its advancement.
• Inclusive: We explore issues affecting all readers and amplify diverse voices across economic, political, and geographic lines.
• Good Stewards: We responsibly manage resources to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Independent: We do not endorse or publish our own opinions on community issues. Instead, we provide robust debate through clearly marked outside viewpoints.

Additional Notes

This is an independent contractor engagement (1099), not employment. You may write for other outlets but cannot hand the same story to a competitor. AI tools may be used for transcription, note organization, or self-editing, but all reported content must be your own work and verifiable. Undisclosed AI-generated copy will terminate the relationship.