Spartanburg Herald-Journal seeks growth and development reporter

The Spartanburg Herald-Journal /goupstate.com, part of the USA Today Network is seeking a reporter to cover growth and development.

Spartanburg is part of the vibrant Upstate of South Carolina. Along with neighboring Greenville, it is the largest metro area in South Carolina. Spartanburg County is the fifth most populated county in SC.

New businesses, housing developments, and apartments are consistently popping up in our area. The city continues to grow with an expanding downtown. The Boiling Springs, Roebuck, and Duncan communities are also hotbeds for new industry and residential growth. The Herald-Journal strives to be the first to inform readers of breaking news and analysis related to that growth.

This is more than a business beat. The right candidate will be able to spot trends, connect dots and tell bigger stories about how the economic engines of this region are impacting Spartanburg and its residents.

This reporter is expected to file public records requests and mine data for enterprise stories. This reporter also works closely with our city and county government reporters for story tips and ideas. We want this reporter to also explore issues related to affordable housing, public transportation, racial equity, and neighborhood sustainability.

Spartanburg sits halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta. We are 45 minutes from the Blue Ridge Mountains and three hours from the Atlantic Coast. The Herald-Journal works closely with the Greenville News and Anderson Independent-Mail as part of a growing and collaborative Upstate SC news team.

Responsibilities:

• Tell stories that accurately inform and engage audiences and help to build a base of loyal readers and subscribers.
• Write stories that address problems in our communities and probe potential solutions, hold government leaders
• Understand the use of metrics and analytics to tailor writing to audiences and to encourage readers to subscribe.
• Work toward becoming the community’s leading voice in
• Connects with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, forums, community leadership, etc.)
• Works with editors to evaluate what’s working and what’s not and develops ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
• Collaborates to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e., Photos, videos, and graphics). Captures basic photos and video as needed.
• Provides great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in journalism or related field
• An aggressive spirit and a willingness to doggedly ask hard questions of people in power
• An ability to connect with people in the community in a way that, first and foremost, builds relationships and trust and, second, encourages them to tell their stories
• The ability to work well with a team of reporters, photojournalists, and editors, but also to function independently when needed
• Sound news judgment
• Knowledge of AP style and a sound ethical approach to journalism
• The ability to work some nights and weekends in a newsroom that also tries to foster work-life balance in a career that often demands flexible scheduling
• This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment, post-offer drug screen, and background check.

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order: Your resume – one to two pages.

A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

Links to 5-10 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

To apply, go here.