Atlanta Journal-Constitution seeks an entertainment industry reporter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the largest and most influential local news organization in Georgia and a regional influence in politics and culture, seeks a reporter to cover the business of entertainment industry in Georgia during a time of rapid change and growth. The AJC’s mission is to be the most essential and engaging source of news and information for the people of Atlanta, of Georgia and the South. To achieve that mission, we are investing and transforming our organization from a storied daily newspaper into a modern media company.

We seek an ambitious and talented reporter to cover the film industry and studios, the business of music and the media organizations in Atlanta. This reporter will chronicle the players, the scoops, the deals and the cultural influence of Atlanta’s emergence as the Hollywood of the South.

**This person must reside in Atlanta.

Beat description:

Georgia is now the third-largest state behind California and New York for film and TV production, fueled by generous tax credits passed in 2008 for content producers such as Amazon, Disney, Paramount, Sony, and Netflix and Atlanta’s own Tyler Perry. TV and film generated $4 billion in direct spending in Georgia for 2021 fiscal year period, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

If you are selected, you will take readers behind the scenes to learn about the factors driving this growth, from key executives for major companies to entrepreneurial creatives, from public policies and tax incentives to changing consumer habits. You will work closely with another reporter who covers Atlanta-based or Atlanta-adjacent entertainers and celebrities as a beat. It’s been said Atlanta’s biggest export has become culture. This job will chronicle the business behind that.  

An ideal fit for this role is a reporter with experience covering the business of entertainment, economic development, deals and industry growth. A key audience is anyone involved in the industry who needs to know what Atlanta is up to, including industry competitors from L.A. and New York and elsewhere. This beat must also serve the more casual consumers who want to know what their favorite celebrity is doing in town or what movie is filming in their neighborhood. You must be skilled with news and enterprise, use of public and court records and must be able to build a deep base of industry sources.

To be selected, you must be able to develop strong, reader-focused story ideas and write about complex concepts with accuracy, clarity and authority. You must be skilled at delivering breaking news, smart, engaging enterprise and accountability reporting, serving readers in print and digital editions.

You must have the ability to prioritize and self-start; build sources; and demonstrate the ability of helping maintain rigorous standards for fairness and accuracy. Because you will work with others who cover entertainment, a collaborative spirit and ability to work well with teammates is essential.

Other key requirements, skills and abilities:

• Shows strong news judgment and the ability to enterprise.
• Demonstrates strong research skills, including knowledge of digital searching techniques and of websites relevant to consumer-related topics.
• Accurately reflects the points of view of all significant players.
• Uses data skills to identify potential topics and analyze them. Can use public records law to obtain information.
• Understands and uses metrics/audience analytics tools to shape coverage and grow audience.
• Uses time effectively to meet deadlines and produce an appropriate amount of work; is organized and able to juggle multiple stories simultaneously.
• Provides needed communication across the newsroom and collaborates effectively .
• Plans or takes photos and video; collects audio.
• Podcast, video on-air and newsletter experience are plusses.

The responsibilities above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job.  This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for this position.

Position Requirements

Education:           College degree preferred.

Experience:         5 years of professional journalism; comparable experience through other roles will be considered for outstanding candidates.

**Additional experience, skills and qualifications may qualify an applicant for a higher-graded reporter role.

• Strong record of serving audiences in a fast-paced, productive environment that is shaped by research, audience metrics and audience needs in print and in digital.
• Demonstrated ability to produce authoritative coverage without reporting gaps and clean, clear copy with minimum of supervision.
• Fluency in another language other than English a plus

Additional Requirements

• Permanent residence in metro Atlanta required.
• Local travel required. Therefore, a successful candidate will need a reliable vehicle to cover the news.

To apply, go here.