Rock Hill Reporter at McClatchy in Rock Hill, SC

From schools to policing, from parks to development, the influence of decisions made by local government officials is felt far and wide in Rock Hill, S.C. and surrounding areas.

The Rock Hill Herald local government accountability reporter is, in essence, a local news reporter with a desire to make meetings, budgets and policy plain and accessible to our readers.

The region, including York County, Fort Mill and Indian Land, is among the fastest growing in the country. Located just north of Charlotte, N.C., The Herald joins fellow McClatchy news organizations, The Charlotte Observer and The State in Columbia, S.C., to provide robust local, statewide and regional news relevant to its audience. This reporter will work especially close with The Observer newsroom and its leadership staff.

This reporter connects communities while unearthing their issues, concerns and interests. With a deep desire to know what is – and isn’t – working, the local government accountability reporter seeks out solutions to the biggest hurdles facing readers.

The local government accountability reporter wants to break news on the beat, as well as develop thoughtful and exclusive enterprise and watchdog stories that are essential to readers, hold leaders and institutions accountable with a strong local source network and regular use of public records.

The reporter is expected to incorporate digital metrics into their decision about what resonates with readers.

This is a position located in Rock Hill, SC and the reporter will be expected to work primarily within this market.

The local government reporter will:

Conceive compelling enterprise story ideas, with a clear focus on information that will be of keen interest and relevance to local readers.
Develop a broad range of sources on the beat.
Regularly break exclusive stories.
Understand audience metrics – which of your stories are resonating with readers and which are not? Working with your editor, regularly mine this data for takeaways about how we can build our audience.
Shoot basic video and photos in the field. Work with visuals team to add more sophisticated visuals as a fundamental story-telling tool.
On tight deadlines, write stories that are complete, clear, fair and provide context for readers.

About the Rock Hill Herald

Our journalism focuses on our local communities, and in that role we have the ability to spotlight problems, highlight solutions and truly make a difference -- all the reasons you got into journalism. And we are part of McClatchy, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States.

We are located in Rock Hill, S.C., a fast-growing region located just a short drive north of Charlotte, N.C. The area, which includes burgeoning communities like Tega Cay, Fort Mill and Indian Land, is experiencing rapid growth, has quality school systems, has unique restaurants and has many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

What you'll bring:

In this role, you will need to:

Conceive compelling enterprise story ideas, with a clear focus on information that will be of keen interest and relevance to local readers.
Develop a broad range of sources on the beat.
Regularly break exclusive stories.
Understand audience metrics – which of your stories are resonating with readers and which are not? Working with your editor, regularly mine this data for takeaways about how we can build our audience.
Shoot basic video and photos in the field. Work with visuals team to add more sophisticated visuals as a fundamental story-telling tool.
On tight deadlines, write stories that are complete, clear, fair and provide context for readers.

A great candidate will have:

2+ years digital journalism experience preferred.
Extensive background in journalism, video and online media preferred.
Creativity and independence in identifying concepts and ideas for news stories that are exclusive to The Observer and relevant to readers.
Command of grammar, spelling, Observer and AP style, as well as clear skills in story organization and clear writing.
Strong story-telling ability and excellent news judgment.
Fluency in both the art and science of readership and engagement.
Ability to tell stories using a variety of tools and platforms.
Enthusiasm for learning AI, new skills and technologies.
Facility with data and public records
Strong interpersonal skills.
Expert-level skills at developing and maintaining source networks on a beat.
Skills in using digital research tools to find information.
Expert-level knowledge in use of social networks.
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in developing and executing long- and short-term projects.
Fluency in Spanish is highly desirable.
Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret documents, records, information and events.
Ability to spot local, regional or national trends and find ways to make them relevant to Observer readers.
A commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.

Minimum requirements:

College degree or equivalent experience.
Must have reliable transportation.

What we’ll bring:

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com. (Exclude this sentence for Miami Herald / el Nuevo Herald positions per Guild contract)

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work when you apply.

About McClatchy:

Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 57 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger.

As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth—a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.

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