South Bend Tribune seeks a public safety reporter

The South Bend Tribune, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for a thoughtful and community-minded reporter who wants to help reimagine the public safety beat in a digital-first environment.

Breaking news, crime and courts will be part of the mix, sure. But the way we cover policing, criminal justice and our community must change, to hold law enforcement and other government agencies accountable, seek a more nuanced representation of the challenges we face and rebuild trust with neglected communities.

You’ll need to dig deeper and seek a wider perspective, cultivate diverse sources and devote resources to debunking myths and stereotypes. You’ll write about serious crime, scrutinize police tactics and spotlight social issues, while being sensitive to how our stories affect the various people and neighborhoods we cover.

An ideal candidate will be conscientious and collaborative, skeptical and comfortable with conflicting views. Flexibility is key, as are compassion and creativity: You’ll cover a protest one day, interview a victim’s family the next, and end the week crunching crime statistics and exploring other criminal justice trends. You’re comfortable breaking a story online first and adding further nuance and facts for print.

The beat will evolve as you share best practices with network colleagues around the country. Metrics and audience research will help guide decisions about how to cover topics and issues as you engage with readers on a variety of platforms to drive audience and subscriber growth.

Responsibilities:

Produce sensitive, insightful coverage that accurately informs and engages multiple audiences, providing a news product that offers context and diverse points of view.
Use metrics and analytics to increase digital audience and engagement and grow digital subscriptions.
Be courageous about experimentation and deliberate about evolving policy. Identify enterprise opportunities and chase them with passion.
Leverage diverse tools, text, images and video to reach readers in print, digital and on social media.
Be a team player who likes to collaborate with coworkers.
Serve as an ambassador to the community on The Tribune’s behalf and actively seek to engage with marginalized portions of the community.
Pitch in with stories on other topics and perform other duties as necessary.
On occasion, work extended hours, evenings, weekends and holidays, at times unexpectedly as news happens.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
A strong foundation in core writing and reporting skills and familiarity with public records.
Enthusiasm for deep research and artful storytelling.
Solid news judgment and a commitment to accuracy.
Top-notch planning, organizational and time management skills.
Strong communication skills and habits with colleagues, sources and the community.
Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
Understanding of metrics, social media and SEO.
Self-motivation and self-direction.
Ability to multi-task and excel under intense deadline pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
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 post-offer pre-employment background check and a motor vehicle record check & drug screen.

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.
Five to 10 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.

If you experience difficulty uploading all of your materials, please email them directly to chavens@sbtinfo.com.

For more information click here.

Mariam Ahmed