Alabama papers seek senior business reporter

Alabama Media Group seeks a senior business reporter for its Birmingham office.

The Alabama Media Group is a digitally-focused news and information company that combines quality journalism from The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, Mobile’s Press-Register and The Mississippi Press with up-to-the-minute access of AL.com.

As a senior business reporter based in our Birmingham hub, you will join a team of professional reporters covering the Alabama business community online at AL.com and in our four print newspaper products. You’ll leverage your track record of success in digital journalism and your ability to increase reader traffic through innovative news writing to make an impact on the local business community.

To be a good fit for the Senior Business Reporter opportunity, you will have:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of journalism experience in a digital newsroom or newspaper (online business reporting experience strongly preferred)
• Proven experience building, maintaining and engaging an active online audience
• The ability to work under deadline pressure and prioritize tasks appropriately
• Solid understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure
• Experience with search engine optimization practices
• Experience taking photos as well as recording audio and video, with the ability to edit
• Familiarity with online social networks, blogs, wikis, and emerging communications technologies (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter), and an in-depth understanding of the importance of using social media to engage audiences
• Demonstrated capability in capitalizing on high-value topics by engaging audiences in frequency and urgency
• An understanding of the methods and tools used to deliver content across a variety of platforms such as Moveable Type CMS, SCC Budgeting and Archiving System and smartphones
• Analytical skills and comfort with modern data reporting techniques
• An understanding of the imperatives of multiple platforms print, mobile, Internet, etc.
• Proven ability to utilize a broad set of tools to tell stories and engage the audience
• Experience using social media to source and promote content
• Knowledge of basic HTML or equivalent web language is an asset
• The ability and desire to stay abreast of industry advances and to proactively consider new methods of reaching audiences including engaging, interactive and optimized product offerings
• The ability to build trust quickly
• The ability to generate unique story ideas
• A portfolio with samples of your past reporting and writing

To apply, go here.