Journo Jobs

TCPalm.com/Treasure Coast Newspapers seeks a government watchdog reporter

June 1, 2023

Posted by Mariam Ahmed

TCPalm.com/Treasure Coast Newspapers, part of the USA Today Network, is seeking a watchdog reporter to cover local government in its three-county area on Florida’s east coast.

  • The successful candidate will go beyond mundane city council meetings and writing about process.
  • He/she/they do journalism that matters, focusing on enterprise and investigative coverage, doggedly digging into issues and not settling for simplistic answers from bureaucrats.
  • This reporter will put government spending (and those who do the spending) under a microscope — assuring readers their taxes are being spent wisely — and tell those stories in engaging and innovative ways and on a variety of digital platforms and in and print.
  • He/she/they will identify issues and trends relevant throughout the state, such as growth and development and transportation, and bring an intensely local focus to the reporting.
  • This reporter will be skilled at identifying news that matters to readers, particularly new businesses, new restaurants and new residential communities. Port St. Lucie, the seventh-largest city in Florida, is experiencing a building and population boom, and is a hotbed of much of that news.
  • The successful candidate also will have the opportunity to report and write on these issues from a broader perspective for use across the USA Today Network-Florida, stretching from the east and west coasts to Tallahassee and the Panhandle.
  • This multimedia journalist should have a track record of finding great stories and be experienced in using social media both in reporting and in promoting them.
  • He/she/they should be adept at source development; have experience obtaining and using public records
  • Be skilled at creating and manipulating databases and other digital-focused tools
  • Bring a rock-solid knowledge of AP style
  • Demonstrate a proven ability to meet daily and weekend deadlines.

This job is based in Fort Pierce, Florida, with coverage focused on St. Lucie County but also throughout the Treasure Coast.

Requirements include:

  • A bachelor’s degree in journalism or equivalent education.
  • Previous municipal reporting
  • At least three years of experience at a daily newspaper or equivalent media are preferred.
  • Spanish fluency is a plus.

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:

  1. Your resume – one to two pages.
  2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
  3. Links to 3-6 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.

For more details click here.

Subscribe to TBN

Receive updates about new stories in the industry daily or weekly.

Subscribe to TBN

Receive updates about new stories in the industry.