KC Star seeks a development and business reporter

The Kansas City Star is looking for an experienced high-energy, self-starting reporter to cover development, growth and business in the Kansas City area.

Our readers want to know about the big developments near their homes, as well as the big office buildings, apartment complexes and entertainment venues downtown. A part of that coverage will include questions about tax incentives and other breaks offered by the government, and whether they are worth the taxpayer dollars being spent. This reporter will cover both private and public development with a strong focus on accountability.

This beat also will have a focus on housing – its rising costs and the challenges finding affordable housing. The Kansas City real estate market is a vibrant one, but the working class is increasingly finding itself priced out of many neighborhoods.

The ideal candidate will have an understanding of how businesses both large and small work, although we don’t aim to tell traditional business stories. We are looking for stories about large employers, but also stories about individuals who are making a difference or trying something new, as well as trends that show how the business world is changing.

The environmental and climate change impacts of development, growth and business will also be a focus for this reporter. Are private developers and government bodies making the city more resilient to withstand more frequent extreme weather events and other impacts of climate change? How is the city’s infrastructure adapting or not adapting to protect residents from environmental challenges? Are local businesses conducting themselves responsibly as it relates to climate issues?

The successful candidate will be able to dissect the complexities of all these topics and regularly write reader-focused, high-interest stories that hold the powerful accountable and illuminate voices that are too often marginalized.

The position will demand a keen eye for sharp news angles, strong source-building skills and a proven track record for finding scoops and producing revelatory, high-impact journalism.

We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal skills who can collaborate with editors, reporters and other staff members. This reporter will work closely with editors and our audience development team to make sure we are reaching readers who have shown a thirst for this coverage.

What you’ll bring:

Strong writing skills and excellent news judgment.
An unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
Expert-level understanding of public records laws and how to use them.
Ability to acquire and analyze data.
A collaborator who works well as part of a team.
A self-starter who will develop a strong network of sources to find and pursue stories that will reach a broad audience.
An interest in telling stories using a variety of media, and an enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies.
Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of metrics/analytics and an understanding of SEO and other audience optimization tactics.
Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism.
Ability to work comfortably in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation and always evolving.

What we’ll bring:

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy’s benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

Apply: If you have experience that makes you a strong candidate for this position, we’d love to talk to you. Please include a cover letter, resume and samples of your work.

To apply, go here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.