Job Description

Mississippi Today, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom focused on investigative and accountability journalism, is seeking an enterprising reporter to cover Jackson city government and Hinds County. There is no shortage of important stories to tell in Mississippi's capital city and its surrounding county. From government spending and public services to infrastructure, decisions made by local officials have profound consequences. We are looking for a reporter who can identify those stories, dig beneath the surface and hold public officials and institutions accountable. This position requires a journalist who can develop sources, ask tough questions, scrutinize public records and pursue stories that go beyond government meetings, press releases and official statements. The reporter must have strong news judgment, a sense of urgency and the persistence to uncover stories that might otherwise go untold. The reporter will work with editors and colleagues to produce timely, authoritative daily coverage while developing ambitious enterprise and investigative stories. We want someone who can move quickly on breaking news, recognize opportunities for deeper reporting and stay with a story to uncover its full impact.
The team is led by Senior Editor Bobby Caina Calvan, who has decades of experience working at news organizations across the U.S.
Roles and Responsibilities: 
We are purposefully casting a wide net, hoping to connect with journalists of many different backgrounds who may be uniquely qualified to be part of this team. If you're a reporter with any of the following experience or attributes, this position may be for you.

• Strong accountability and watchdog reporting instincts, with a demonstrated ability to identify original stories and pursue them independently.

• Intellectual curiosity, persistence and a willingness to ask difficult questions and challenge official narratives.

• Ability to cultivate sources, build trust and develop relationships with people across government and the communities it serves.

• Commitment to fair, accurate and impactful journalism that centers the experiences of people affected by government decisions.

• Strong news judgment, a sense of urgency and the ability to balance daily coverage with deeper enterprise reporting.

• Collaborative mindset and ability to work within a team-oriented newsroom.

• Strong understanding of Jackson (or similar large urban centers) and the unique challenges facing the city and its residents.

Expectations:

• Cover Jackson city government and the Hinds County Board of Supervisors with an emphasis on accountability and transparency.

• Consistently identify and develop original stories that reveal how government decisions affect residents and whether public officials are fulfilling their responsibilities.

• Build and maintain a diverse network of sources, including government officials, public employees, community leaders and residents.

• Examine government budgets, contracts, spending, policies and public records to identify potential wrongdoing, waste, mismanagement and systemic problems.

• Respond quickly to breaking developments while pursuing longer-term investigative and enterprise stories.

• Demonstrate initiative and ownership of the beat, regularly generating story ideas rather than relying on assignments or official agendas.

• Work with a small team of journalists who are focused on social inequities and racial equality in our area.

• Work with our Audience Team and data and visual journalists to create compelling story presentations.

Qualified candidates should have:

• At least two years of professional reporting experience, preferably covering government, public policy or accountability issues.

• A demonstrated track record of developing sources, generating original story ideas and producing deeply reported journalism.

• Proficiency in filing public records requests and analyzing government documents, budgets and other records.

• Strong interviewing, research, writing and fact-checking skills.

• Versatility in producing both shortform and longform stories.

• Sound news judgment, a sense of urgency and a commitment to accuracy under tight deadlines.

• Initiative and organizational skills to manage multiple assignments independently and pursue stories with persistence.

• Multimedia reporting skills, including using a smartphone to capture photos and video.

• Familiarity with social media as a tool for research, source development and audience engagement.

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to work alongside award-winning journalists and make significant contributions to Mississippi’s top nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news and information source.

• Salary starts at $60,000 and is commensurate with experience.

• Medical insurance, and options for vision and dental insurance.

• Use of appropriate technology and equipment. 

• 29 days paid time off per year.

• Up to 12 weeks of parental family leave, with return-to-work flexibility.

• Simple IRA with 3 percent company matching. Group-term life insurance is provided to employees ($15,000 policy).

• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences.

How to Apply:
We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the people and communities we serve. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this position, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people who are differently abled.To be considered, send a resume and a cover letter describing your approach to accountability journalism and storytelling. Share no more than four of your best clips – with a note briefly explaining why you chose each of those stories.

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