Helena Independent Record seeks a local news reporter

The Helena Independent Record in Montana’s beautiful capital city has an immediate opening for a full-time local news reporter.

The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to craft meaningful stories about a wide range of local issues, with a focus on education and crime news. This reporter will spend plenty of time in school board meetings and courtroom hearings but also needs to get out into the community to study the real-life impact of the decisions being made both in public and behind closed doors.

As the newspaper’s primary education reporter, the successful candidate will be responsible for covering all non-sports news related to Helena Public Schools, East Helena Public Schools, Carroll College, Helena College, and several smaller schools in Helena and the surrounding area. The reporter will also be required to sift through daily court records and dockets at the local, state and federal level without letting any major cases slip through the cracks, and will be expected to write a short brief about every felony arrest in the Helena area.

Everyone in the Independent Record newsroom is also expected to function as a general assignment reporter, which means the successful candidate must be able to cover issues related to state government, natural resources, health, business, breaking news, entertainment and other areas of interest to our readers. Basic photo and video skills are a must.

The workdays for this position will be Monday through Friday most weeks, with some evening and weekend work required when necessary. Coverage plans often change on a dime, so we need someone who is undaunted by the prospect of reporting for duty without yet knowing what the day will hold. This person will have good people skills, a positive attitude and great work ethic, along with the ability to stay focused amid a variety of distractions. A bachelor’s degree in journalism and experience as a newspaper reporter are preferred.

A mid-sized city in central Montana, Helena is an oasis for outdoor recreationists with easy access to blue ribbon fisheries, award-winning trails, and some of the best ski and snowboard areas in the country. Our community has good schools, restaurants and nightlife, yet it continues to maintain its small-town charm.

We offer an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid holidays and vacation. We are an equal opportunity employer. You can see our website at www.helenair.com and learn more about our company at www.lee.net.

To apply, submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume and clips, at www.helenair.com/workhere.

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