The Advocate seeks an Acadiana reporter

The Acadiana Advocate is one of three interconnected newsrooms in south Louisiana, along with The Advocate in Baton Rouge and The Times Picayune in New Orleans. The team of reporters in our Acadiana Bureau is guided by our managing editor in Lafayette.

This job requires a reporter who is curious about what is important to readers in Lafayette and surrounding parishes and can use that knowledge, as well as digital metrics and social media, to break and report exclusive journalism. Acadiana has a strong cultural identity and as a reporter, you will have the opportunity to create sense-of-place stories around the area’s unique food, music and social fabric. You will explore a wide range of topics about the way Acadiana residents live, work and play – from French immersion to Catholic traditions to the area’s entrepreneurial heritage.

The job will require a journalist who’s always thinking of the next story – who has a pipeline of ideas and is eager to collaborate on sharpening and pursuing them.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Identify and develop engaging story ideas that resonate with our readers and align with our editorial guidelines.
2. Conduct thorough research on assigned topics, including interviews with relevant sources, to gather accurate and credible information.
3. Write clear, concise, and engaging feature articles, adhering to the organization’s style and editorial standards.
4. Conduct interviews with subjects, experts, and individuals relevant to the feature story, ensuring accuracy and fairness.
5. Collaborate with photographers and multimedia producers to enhance feature stories with visuals, videos, and multimedia elements.
6. Meet established deadlines for submitting completed feature stories and be able to work efficiently under pressure.
7. Collaborate with editors to incorporate feedback and make necessary revisions to ensure high-quality content.
8. Foster strong relationships within the community and keep abreast of local trends, events, and issues.
9. Actively participate in the promotion of your stories through social media, interviews, and other promotional opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field is preferred, as well as previous experience as a journalist.
• We’re looking for someone with excellent writing and storytelling and strong research and interviewing abilities.
• A successful candidate should have the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced newsroom environment.

Salary:  Commensurate with experience

For further details click here.