The Kansas City Business Journal is looking for a reporter to cover the best companies and businesspeople in the city.
This reporter has our special publications as a primary beat. On this beat, this reporter will take the lead in writing for sections tied to such programs as Women Who Mean Business, NextGen Leaders and Champions of Business. Beyond writing profiles and stories about these top companies and leaders, the reporter will work with editors on all aspects of our specials, from running the application process to putting together judging panels to working on scripts for events.
This position has two secondary beats; engineering and architecture. Kansas City is an engineering hub, with four firms among the area’s 10 largest private companies. Additionally, Kansas City is a hub for the world’s top designers of sports facilities, with area architects responsible for Olympic venues; stadiums for NFL, MLB and top world soccer teams; and NBA, NHL and college arenas.
We are looking for someone who can apply basic journalistic skills of source-building, project management and storytelling to all of these beats. We do not view awards programs as fluff, but as valuable intelligence to readers and prime scouting for companies and leaders that deserve greater editorial attention.
Skills
• Desire and ability to break news and to identify newsworthy events and people
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple short- and longer-term projects
• Can work both independently and collaboratively
• Can relate comfortably to a wide range of people, in person, on the phone and online
• Ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver valuable, memorable content
• Strong understanding of news writing, story structure and journalistic ethics
• Ability to build and maintain a strong source base
• Knowledge of business principles
Duties
A Business Journal reporter is competitive, collaborative and curious. Reporters are expected to own every important story on their beat; use networking events, social media and other community-building outlets to expand and fortify their source base and audience; work collaboratively with teammates in the newsroom; and contribute short- and long-form stories, online and in print.
Experience
• 1-2 years of journalistic experience
• Proven ability to build, maintain and engage an active audience
Education
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
To apply, send resume, cover letter and examples of your most enterprising work to Editor in Chief Brian Kaberline, bkaberline@bizjournals.com
