The Pennsylvania Capital-Star is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site dedicated to honest and relentless coverage of state government, politics and policy. It is staffed by veteran Pennsylvania reporters and is dedicated to shifting away from horse-race coverage and partisan bickering and toward a focus on how policies emanating from Harrisburg and Washington D.C. impact Pennsylvanians. We are committed to making our work accessible to people who may have tuned political coverage out.

Part of States Newsroom, the Capital-Star believes in enlisting and empowering journalists to do impactful, ambitious work. We understand we need to meet our audience where they are, so we are excited to bring our award-winning news coverage to the airwaves with our first Audio Reporter. 

Based in Harrisburg, this journalist will play a new and vital role in our newsroom by contributing to daily news coverage for both broadcast and digital audiences. We are looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative culture, possesses great news judgment, and demonstrates the ability to create compelling, engaging audio journalism. The reporter will cover state government in a battleground state – from the Legislature to state agencies to statewide elections, and other issues impacting our communities. The reporter will produce daily audio and digital stories) for our online audience and broadcast partners, as well as deep-dive, sound-rich long-form pieces every four to six weeks.

The ideal candidate will know how to track issues affecting Pennsylvanians and produce concise, contextual digital and audio stories. The reporting will take readers beyond press releases, providing a deeper understanding of what matters to Pennsylvanians.

This is a one-year grant funded position with opportunity for renewal. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Produce regular, high-quality audio and digital reporting on issues facing Pennsylvania, while meeting broadcast deadlines.
• Contribute regularly to the Capital-Star’s briefs section
• Be comfortable utilizing community engagement and Solutions Journalism strategies
• Generate story ideas with the editor
• Pursue story leads, both self-generated and as assigned, with self-direction and solid news judgment
• Approach assignments on deadline with strong communication and follow through with the editor and colleagues
• Collaborate with other reporters on projects and share research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
• Establish and expand audio and digital media presence representing the outlet and use personal social media to amplify the site’s content, presence, and voice
• Take photos and video as necessary to illustrate and amplify stories 

QUALIFICATIONS

We’re looking for candidates with at least three years of professional journalism experience, including news writing, writing on deadline, audio production, and audio editing. The ideal candidate will possess sound news judgment, flexibility, creativity and the ability to manage ongoing and short-term projects with strong attention to detail and accuracy. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. States Newsroom journalists are expected to produce at least four stories per week.

All necessary equipment will be provided by States Newsroom. Authorization to work in the United States is required. At this time, States Newsroom is unable to provide visa sponsorship. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The minimum salary for this position is $60,000 and rises with experience. Relocation stipend will be considered. Our generous benefits package includes:

• Premium-free platinum health care for employees and their families (i.e., nothing comes out of your paycheck!)
• 4 weeks of vacation per year
• 2 weeks of personal leave per year
• 20 hours of paid volunteer time per year
• 11 paid holidays per year
• $75 monthly cell phone reimbursement
• $200 cell phone replacement benefit every two years
• $75 monthly fitness benefit
• 401K with up to 3% match
• 12 weeks of parental leave
• Full-service EAP

ABOUT OUR CULTURE

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels — from quick hit to investigative — but not at the expense of burning out its employees. We are supportive, exciting, welcoming and positive. We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat.

States Newsroom’s mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission.

At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, send a cover letter, resume with three references, and at least three links or clips to jobs<at>statesnewsroom.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.