journalist San Antonio, TX
Job description
Crime Trends Reporter
The Crime Trends Reporter will keep a pulse on crime trends – and how city officials are responding – throughout San Antonio. Qualified candidates will know how to find interesting stories at the neighborhood level as well citywide by working their sources and requesting/analyzing data. They’ll present these stories in digestible ways that help readers understand what’s going on in the city. We need a self-starter who can pitch original ideas and ask good questions.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Publish 2 to 3 stories per week relating to the crime trends beat. This includes both pitching original ideas and accepting assignments from an editor.
- Collaborate with Graphics Reporter to collect and analyze data for stories. Conduct interviews with officials and residents to better understand and explain what the data shows.
- Develop a network of sources within city departments, among elected officials, in SAPD and in neighborhoods who can provide stories ideas and information related to the beat.
- Coverage areas: Which crimes are up/down, anything new, and in what neighborhoods? What is SAPD noticing? Where are they shifting resources? What are residents complaining about? These are not press release stories, nor are they long term investigations. Crime-adjacent stories may include union contract negotiations, arbitration hearings, etc.
Competencies/Critical Skills:
- Ability to work sources and dig for original story ideas. Innovation and creativity are key
- Digital-first reporting skills: Pitching and writing stories based on audience trends within the beat
- Sound news judgment, established through newsroom experience or journalistic training
- Basic journalistic writing, including story structure AP style
- Requesting data from public and private entities, including FOIA submissions
- Basic understanding of simple data trends and ability to translate those into stories
Describe the most challenging aspect of this position:
- Time management and creativity: This reporter will be largely a self-starter, pitching their own stories and seeing them to publication in a timely manner. Maintaining a steady flow of ideas will be the biggest challenge.
What type of decisions does this person have the authority to make without a supervisor’s approval?
- Requesting data or conducting interviews that may turn into future stories.
What type of decisions does this position refer to others for approval?
- This reporter should run all story pitches through their editor.
What are the measures of success for this position?
- Deliver 2 to 3 stories per week. Deliver at least one story in conjunction with Graphics Reporter per month.
- Grow byline visits YOY
- Break news and find scoops within the beat. Give the audience content we haven’t had in the past.
- Great teamwork with digital and newsroom staff
Experience, Qualifications, Technical Requirements, Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field
- 2 years experience as a reporter in a newsroom setting
- Experience with data analyzation (preferred)
The San Antonio Express-News has been the voice of South Texas since 1865, educating, informing, and entertaining an important and growing community. Its award-winning journalists cover the news that matters most, from restaurant openings and local events to the global economy, from military homecomings to foreign affairs, and from neighborhood struggles to international disasters. The leading news organization delivers unparalleled reach across multiple platforms, through a trusted portfolio of brands.
About Hearst Newspapers:
With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.
At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.
Be a part of something bigger – your headline awaits.
#LI-KR1 #LI-Hybrid
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About Hearst
CEO: Steven R. Swartz
Revenue: $10+ billion (USD)
Size: 10000+ Employees
Type: Company - Private
Website: www.hearst.com
Year Founded: 1887
