Ballantine Communications Inc. seeks a reporter, Cortez, CO

Reporters needed to cover Cortez, CO (not remote)

Family-owned Ballantine Communications Inc. (BCI) operates multiple businesses including The Durango Herald and The Journal newspapers, a variety magazines, and an advertising agency. While both newspapers are daily online, we publish three printed newspaper editions per week in Durango and The Journal is printed weekly in Cortez. The Durango Herald has been honored repeatedly as the best small newspaper in Colorado. Our newsroom has a deep commitment and proud tradition of community journalism.

Reporters at BCI entities (The Durango Herald, and The Journal) are focused on readership and a growing online audience. A full-time photographer/videographer is on staff, but reporters frequently are required to provide photos for their stories.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Grow audiences by delivering well-written content;
• Perform research on different topics;
• Beat reporting: deliver a wide range of work that covers all aspects: daily stories, profiles, news features, exclusive news and watchdog reports;
• Uncover newsworthy stories/breaking news;
• Interview key people (witnesses, sources etc.);
• Write content with readers needs in mind;
• Ensure your pieces are accurate and objective;
• Establish contacts and sources to use in future research;
• Maintain notes in written or electronic form;
• Contribute to content idea generation for publication;
• Stay up-to-date with local, national and international affairs;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or related field.
• Previous journalism experience is preferred, but recent college graduates will be considered. *Please include five (5) samples of your work.
• Ability to meet deadlines;
• Multimedia/social media knowledge and experience.
• Knowledge of photography when staff photographer is not available.
• Broadly applied software including Google products, and photography skills (video skills preferred but not required).
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Telecommunications — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Salary Range: $37,000 – $44,000 DOE

For more information click here.