Trending Reporter

CO Salary Range: USD 18.00 - 20.11 per hour

The Pueblo Chieftain, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for an intrepid, digitally savvy reporter to join our team. Our trending reporter plays a key role in serving our southern Colorado audience by providing engaging journalism that helps readers keep on top of local issues and trending topics and connect with the community and world around them.

The right candidate understands or is eager to learn what Pueblo residents care about and how statewide and national issues impact people in Pueblo. The reporter is SEO savvy, can spot high-interest topics using engagement tools like Google Trends, and can work both independently and in collaborative environments.

The Pueblo Chieftain, Colorado's oldest daily newspaper, is a digitally oriented newsroom that demands excellence in multiplatform storytelling. Want to wow us? Go beyond the byline. Show us how you can bring your work to readers in real time via the many multimedia tools at your disposal. Show us excellent communication skills mixed with an inquisitive mind and bold use of diverse sources.

Our trending reporter will focus on these key areas:

• Answering questions local readers are asking related to local topics in the news. What's trending in Pueblo and southern Colorado?
• Localizing national and state trending stories in news, culture, entertainment, and politics.
• Amplify breaking news coverage by explaining complex topics in a scannable style.
• Providing content on evergreen topics, seasonal themes and the unique aspects of life in Pueblo.
• Be most active in the early mornings when online audiences are most engaged.
• Stay current on understanding social media, Google trends, audience metrics and SEO techniques.
• Monitor social media, news feeds, and other relevant sources to identify emerging trends in various beats.
• Be able to handle breaking news coverage, including public-safety news.
• Manage a high-volume beat while balancing some ongoing long-term stories.

Our successful candidate will need to:

• Be capable of quickly establishing their voice.
• Have strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.
• Have an interest in multimedia, including video.
• Be a self-starter who owns the beat yet works collaboratively with others locally and regionally to meet common goals.
• Display excellent news judgment and journalism ethics.
• Seek out diverse sources.
• Have a knack for SEO-driven headlines and other audience-driving strategies.
• Be nimble and able to adjust swiftly to shifting news demands.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism or any other subject or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-3 years of reporting experience, preferably in a digitally focused news organization.
• Commitment to detail, accuracy and fairness.
• Ability to multi-task and excel under deadline pressure, using time efficiently.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Application Instructions

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 and learn what people in Pueblo care most about.
3. Examples of at least five stories you're proud of. Try to include some that you turned quickly and that used alternative story forms.

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.

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The hourly rate for this role will range between $18.00 and $20.11. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable.