Summary:

The Orange County Register is seeking an experienced reporter to join our local news team full-time to cover key cities and other important topics in the area. Orange County is a diverse, innovative community with 3.2 million residents, and we need a strong reporter who sees past outdated perceptions of the county.

This reporter should be aggressive and resourceful while serving as a watchdog, keeping an eye on public officials and county/city developments. We're looking for a journalist with the ability to produce strong enterprise and breaking news for digital and print platforms. You will cultivate sources in person and via social media, write compelling narratives as well as social posts, and be comfortable mining public records for deep investigative pieces. Employees in this role are represented by SCNG NewsGuild.

Although this is a remote position, candidates must reside in Orange County or nearby counties.

What you will do:

• Be versatile, as stories will cover a variety of topics
• Write on deadline in a fast-paced environment
• Take your own photos
• Produce assigned stories and pitch original story ideas on a regular basis
• Research and develop stories with the utmost accuracy
• Cultivate sources both in person and via social media
• Understand and use company-provided hardware, software, and cloud-based equipment and systems for company business and tasks
• Discuss stories throughout the process with the assignment editor, including (but not limited to) idea development, overcoming hurdles, editing, presentation strategy, and audience analytics
• Work with the photo and graphics teams to ensure exploration of all visual ways stories can be told or enhanced
• Collaborate with other local Register reporters in a positive culture of teamwork

What you will bring:

• Strong news judgment and a drive to compete
• Ability to write clean, concise copy that draws readers in, including nut graphs and online headlines for SEO
• Skill in cultivating human sources, documents, and data, including a facility for mining public records
• Capacity to juggle multiple stories of varying complexity, from quick news posts under intense deadline pressure to daily news stories and longer-term enterprise reporting
• Proficiency in using the web and social media to report and share stories
• Facility with multiple languages is a plus; Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin top the list, but are not the only ones that would be helpful
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
• At least two years of professional journalism experience; prior local government reporting experience preferred

Benefits and Compensation:

The hourly wage is $24.04 + cell phone stipend. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to geographic location, education, work experience, time in role, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, the Company offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 401k, as well as paid time off and select paid holidays (all benefits are based on eligibility). Please click the following link for more detailed information: www.mymedianewsgroup.com

Who we are:

In 2016, the Southern California News Group (SCNG) rapidly became a major U.S. news organization bringing together prominent publications like the Orange County Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise under the MediaNews Group umbrella. SCNG has become the largest news content provider in the five-county Los Angeles metropolitan area, boasting a leading circulation nationwide with 11 daily newspapers and over a dozen community weeklies. Our mission is to connect communities by providing readers with top-notch local news coverage and offering advertisers unparalleled access to a diverse and engaged audience. No matter the distribution vehicle - newspaper, magazine, mobile, online - SCNG's in-depth reporting on local news, politics, sports, and entertainment attracts a highly desirable audience of over 8.1 million adults weekly. This makes SCNG the leading local news provider and an indispensable marketing solution for Southern California advertisers.

“4x Built In Best Places to Work Winner - 2023-2026”

EEO Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

How To Apply:

• Please submit an online application along with your resume for this position here. In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter and 4 - 5 samples showcasing your best work.

Closing Date:

• Continuous recruitment until the position is filled

Conditions of Employment: 

• A full pre-employment background check and MVR will be conducted as part of the selection process. Must be willing to submit and pass the necessary required checks
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation
• Travel – This position entails occasional driving for work assignments, in-person training sessions and/or meetings. The employee will be responsible for transporting themselves between different sites as needed
• Must be available for shift work. May be required to work various hours for coverage outside of normal business hours

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