Housing Reporter

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. Through trusted brands like the USA TODAY NETWORK and Newsquest in the UK, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses.

About the role

The Cape Cod Times, part of USA TODAY Co., is seeking a journalist to cover the housing beat and contribute to public safety, court, and local government coverage. This role focuses on housing affordability, developments, and lotteries across Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, addressing issues like workforce housing, seasonal pricing, and reader demand for in-depth stories. The journalist will also cover high-profile court cases and public safety issues, with opportunities to break news, track trends, and produce enterprise-level content in stories and videos.

Cape Cod is home to over 240,000 residents in a seaside environment, offering outdoor activities, a vibrant creative economy, and world-renowned scientific research institutions. Located about an hour south of Boston, it provides a dynamic setting for journalism.

Responsibilities

• Write quick-turn stories on breaking news as well as in-depth enterprise stories and investigations.
• Produce short vertical videos for news coverage to engage audiences on social platforms.
• Act as a curious, assertive, and self-starting journalist, reporting on breaking news and trending topics with urgency.
• Provide thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
• Collaborate with editors, digital, and social teams to evaluate content performance and refine audience strategies.
• Work with photographers to enhance storytelling with appropriate visual elements.
• Capitalize on live, breaking, and trending moments by creating quick-turn content for social media and digital platforms.
• Stay proficient with the latest social media tools and trends.
• Use metrics to monitor real-time content performance and adjust strategies based on data.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• High-level writing, communication, and time management skills.
• Experience creating vertical videos.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under deadline pressure.
• Produce clean, accurate, and publication-ready content.
• Strong understanding of reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Facility with AI and automation tools to enhance journalism.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Employment contingent on passing a pre-employment drug screen, motor vehicle record check, and background check.

Pay

The hourly rate for this role ranges between $21.88 and $34.13, reflective of factors including market location, education, skills, certifications, and experience. Variable compensation may also apply.