Grant Funded Visual Journalist – Reno Gazette Journal / rgj.com

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth-focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK and Newsquest in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses.

About the role

Reno Gazette Journal/rgj.com, the leading news organization covering Reno, Northern Nevada, and the unique stories of our region, is seeking an innovative and passionate visual journalist to join our team. This grant-funded position focuses on producing high-impact visuals for print, digital, and social media while driving social growth and vertical video innovation. The role includes participation in community service-oriented projects highlighting coverage of underserved communities.

Ideal candidates are energetic, self-motivated storytellers with a keen sense for news, creativity, and versatility in shooting, editing, and publishing content quickly across multiple platforms. Spanish language skills are highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Produce high-quality multimedia stories through photography, videography, and clear, engaging text that informs, entertains, and inspires our audience.
• Shoot, edit, and publish vertical videos designed for platforms such as Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Stories, with a focus on driving audience growth and engagement.
• Manage quick-turn production of photo galleries and video content, ensuring timely, accurate delivery across digital and social channels.
• Collaborate with newsroom colleagues on story development, visual strategy, and innovative approaches to audience engagement.
• Analyze audience data and trends to inform content choices and maximize reach on rgj.com and social platforms.
• Mentor and support fellow journalists in basic photo and video editing, best practices for mobile journalism, and new media techniques.
• Cover breaking news, sports, features, profiles, enterprise, and investigations while elevating visual storytelling.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, visual media, or equivalent professional experience and education.
• At least two years’ experience in professional photography and videography, with a strong portfolio of vertical and social-first content.
• Expertise in photo and video editing software (such as Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and mobile editing apps).
• Demonstrated ability to shoot, edit, and publish with smartphones and advanced camera systems (the RGJ uses Sony digital cameras and equipment).
• Proven success growing audiences and engagement on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Facebook.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven newsroom and adapt to changing priorities and technologies.
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and breaking news assignments as needed.
• Strong grasp of journalism law, media ethics, and a commitment to accurate, impactful storytelling.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance as required by Nevada law.

Pay

The hourly rate for this role will range between $13.94 and $25.38. Base compensation reflects factors including market location, education, skills, certifications, and experience. Variable compensation may also apply.