The Atlanta Business Chronicle is looking for a reporter to cover economic development in one of the hottest economies in the country.
This beat focuses on development, transportation, workforce, and all of the issues that make it easier or harder to do business in the region. This reporter might break news of a new development planned for the BeltLine one day, a corporate relocation from out of state the next, and plans for a transportation bond issue the next. Source relationships with developers, elected officials, government staffers, economic development leaders, real estate pros and economists are critical.
Our economic development reporters are expected to provide forward-looking business intelligence to savvy readers who will use it to grow or protect their businesses. Our content gives them a leg up on their competitors, connects them with decision-makers and delineates growth strategies that work from those that don’t. This often entails digging up news at city halls, county courthouses or other public entities and then speaking to private-sector sources about the business ramifications of what’s in the pipeline.
The ideal candidate will blend traditional journalism skills — source building, sharp news judgment, interviewing prowess and scoop-driven reporting – with online and social media know-how. Reporters in our newsroom don’t just turn in copy. They include videos, slideshows and other multimedia components that advance the story and further engage our audience. They break hard news that sometimes sources don’t want brought to light, but they don’t burn bridges.
Duties
• Report and write short-form and long-form stories for the website and weekly print edition.
• Own the beat, dictating day-to-day coverage and thriving on digging out source-driven exclusives.
• Relentlessly develop sources and manage relationships with high-level executives and other community leaders.
• Scoop competitors on every story of any significance, not only telling them what happened, but why and how.
Skills
• Desire and ability to break news and to identify newsworthy events and sources
• Strong analytical and investigative-interviewing skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to relate comfortably to a wide range of people, in person, on the phone and online
• A clear drive to develop sources and build audience
• Solid understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure.
• Ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver content that differentiates the organization from competitors.
• Multimedia skills, including video, photos, broadcast, on-camera, helpful.
Experience
• 1-3 years reporting in a newsroom
• Track record in the news business of building, maintaining and engaging an audience in print and online.
• Social media mavens held in high regard.
Education
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
To apply, email a cover letter, resume and clips that best show enterprising and scoops reporting to Beth Hunt, Director of Editorial Recruiting and Development at American City Business Journals: bzhunt@bizjournals.com
