Michigan labor/state workers reporter

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About the role

The Lansing State Journal/lsj.com is seeking a journalist passionate about labor and issues important to Michigan’s workforce, including unionized employees in healthcare, K-12 education, and Michigan State University. This beat focuses on the state’s 53,000 state workers, with about 15,000 in the Lansing area, covering staffing levels, working conditions, pay, benefits, work-from-home policies, state office space, and other workforce-related issues.

This is not a traditional state government reporting position centered on the Legislature or Capitol news. Instead, the role emphasizes investigative and enterprise journalism, identifying high-interest issues, cutting through political messaging, and producing explanatory and revelatory content. The reporter will cover state politics at the local level for the Greater Lansing region, which includes 12 state legislators and two U.S. House seats.

The successful candidate will balance daily journalism with in-depth reporting, identify trends, and produce content that resonates with readers, particularly within underserved communities. The role requires holding public officials accountable, developing professional sources, using FOIA to uncover records, and maintaining relentless accuracy. Collaboration with a team covering business, crime, courts, communities, and local government is essential, along with adherence to the highest journalistic ethical standards.

Responsibilities

• Identifies key issues through source development, data analysis, and document reporting.
• Shapes coverage with independent judgment and strategic insight.
• Collaborates closely with editors to set priorities and deadlines.
• Produces high-impact, multi-platform work with a disciplined approach.
• Uses audience metrics to inform coverage plans and meet reader needs.
• Writes clearly and concisely, with strong nut graphs and clear relevance.
• Develops and executes distribution and optimization strategies.
• Delivers strong reader service, helping audiences find answers and solutions.
• Builds trust and credibility within the coverage area.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two years of reporting experience.
• Energetic self-starter and quick thinker who can identify stories that matter.
• Ability to multitask and perform well in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with a team of journalists.
• Strong communication skills, news judgment, and headline-writing ability.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and compassion.
• Proficiency in social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit) with experience engaging readers.
• Experience shooting and editing photos and videos on an iPhone.
• Excellent writing, spelling, and grammar skills with knowledge of AP style.
• Understanding of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Fluency in Spanish is a plus.