Suburban Growth & Accountability Reporter (UNION)

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

The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch.com seeks a versatile watchdog reporter to cover assigned suburban communities in a highly competitive, fast-paced news environment. We are looking for a journalist comfortable with text and video coverage of quick-hit breaking news, service journalism, and ambitious enterprise. The ideal candidate has a deep curiosity and unrelenting commitment to uncovering issues, holding individuals and institutions accountable, and identifying solutions. This role includes authoring a newsletter highlighting suburban coverage and engaging with readers as a recognizable face and brand in the assigned area.

Key coverage topics include growth and development, data centers, economic and social disparity, affordable housing, and traffic. The reporter will be attuned to community buzz, develop a deep source roster, and break exclusive, impactful stories. Experience with public records, newsletters, and audience metrics is essential. Versatility is critical, as coverage will range from proposed developments to city council races to service journalism. The role requires collaboration on breaking news, weekend and night assignments, and covering for colleagues as needed.

Responsibilities

• Cover suburban communities with a focus on breaking news, service journalism, and enterprise reporting.
• Develop and maintain a deep source roster to uncover exclusive, high-impact stories.
• Author a newsletter highlighting suburban coverage and engage with readers as a community brand.
• Cover key topics such as growth and development, data centers, economic disparity, affordable housing, and traffic.
• Use audience metrics to guide coverage decisions and identify shareable, compelling stories.
• Break down complex issues, politics, and government actions into digestible stories.
• Shoot and edit photos and videos using an iPhone.
• Collaborate with a team on trending and breaking news, including weekend and night assignments.
• Utilize public records and AI tools to assist in news gathering.
• Engage with readers on social media platforms (Facebook, X, Threads, Instagram).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s in communications, journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of reporting experience in a daily newsroom.
• Strong communication skills, news judgment, and headline-writing ability.
• Proficiency in SEO and social media engagement.
• Experience shooting and editing photos and videos on an iPhone.
• Ability to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure.
• Strong writing, spelling, grammar skills, and knowledge of AP style.
• Familiarity with audience metrics and media law.
• Commitment to ethical journalism and accountability reporting.

Pay

The hourly rate for this role will range between $27.85 and $31.83. Base compensation reflects factors such as market location, education, skills, certifications, and experience.