The Washington Business Journal, the leading source for local business news in Greater Washington, is seeking reporters for two high-profile beats:
- Economic development
- Technology/startups/innovation
A Business Journal reporter is the beating heart of the organization and the business, with the vital task of pumping news, information and life into our products on all platforms. First and foremost, reporters must establish themselves as the go-to source of news, data and perspective in their assigned area of coverage. The top mission: to own audience, by every measure.
Our reporters must marry strong traditional journalism skills – source building, sharp interviewing techniques, strong analytical and investigative reporting skills, clear writing, document use – with online and social media know-how. They are expected to contribute both short-form (daily online posts) and long-form (print) stories to our news products. Scoops matter. A lot. Scoops serve as the oxygen supporting the rest of our content operations and are vital to “owning” one’s beat. Only by being “out front” of the news can our reporters establish their credibility with their audience, identify the most influential newsmakers, and interpret the news on their beats with authority.
To this end, reporters are expected to break important hard news online and use print and video to tell the story behind the headlines, providing deeper analysis of newsworthy events. Whatever the platform, we strive to produce content – original and curated – that is accompanied by perspective and context. A Business Journal reporter is widely recognized as the community’s foremost authority on their assigned beat. The Business Journal brand provides the kind of access to business and community leaders that other journalists can only hope for, and it is the responsibility of our reporters to use networking events, Twitter, LinkedIn and other community-building outlets to expand and fortify their source pool and audience. Reporters will be responsible for identifying sources and outside writers to target as contributors to the Business Journal on their beats. With online and other metrics, business journals can determine how engaged readers are with our online content, and reporters and editors will be responsible for driving online engagement among loyal (repeat) readers. Constant audience growth is a key metric of success.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Bachelors degree or equivalent experience
- Minimum of 2 years of journalism experience with a proven ability in reporting and writing
- Ability to work independently and remotely
- Ability to break news and to identify newsworthy events and sources
- Strong writing, analytical and investigative interviewing skills
- Ability to relate comfortably to a wide range of people, in person and online and to develop sources and an audience
- Versatile
- Comfortable with constant change
- Competitive, collaborative, curious
- Knowledge of business, and/or business community, a plus
- Fast learner
- Proven experience building, maintaining and engaging an active audience
- Ability to work independently under deadline pressure and prioritize tasks appropriately
- Solid understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure
- Experience with using social media to source and promote content a plus
- Understanding imperatives of multiple platforms – print, mobile, Internet, etc.
- Mastery of social media and digital interaction
- Proven ability to utilize a broad set of tools to tell stories and engage the audience
- Ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver content that differentiates the organization from competitors
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties and Responsibilities, work schedules and/or location may change based on evolving business needs
- Own the beat audience.
- Own the beat conversation.
- Build source network relentlessly.
- Attend both Business Journal and industry related events. When relevant to their beats, reporters must work in partnership with the publisher, editor in chief and event director to select speakers and topics that will grow event attendance and audience. Reporters will be expected to facilitate/moderate at Business Journal events and must be comfortable in taking a leading role in the community.
- Produce daily online posts, write at least four long-form cover stories for print edition a year and contribute to special sections.
- Work collaboratively with editors, photographers, designers and others to maximize the impact and accessibility of stories reported.
- Develop and curate a reporter page/section spread in the print paper each week; this spread is comprised of information, highlights and data gathered and reported on throughout the week, then packaged and freshened for the print product.
- Take on any other assignment made by manager(s).
- Work cooperatively and collaboratively with all colleagues and professionally with sources.
Send your clips, a resume and a cover letter explaining how you’d cover one of these beats to editor Doug Fruehling at dfruehling@bizjournals.com.
