Business Reporter, Mornings

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is seeking a driven Morning General Assignment Business Reporter. This fast-paced job gets the business coverage rolling early each day. Coverage includes breaking and trending news across all business topics, serving consumers, workers and people trying to afford the rising costs of everything from childcare to groceries. While the focus of this role is quick daily coverage, the reporter will have occasional opportunities to pursue enterprise stories and make use of a well-resourced newsroom as part of a dynamic business team.

Responsibilities   

• Report quick-turn stories on the dominant issues of the day, prioritizing news with high reader interest. Then turn to follow stories and explanatory coverage that can elevate those stories.
• Identify and pursue important news related to our region’s major employers, from Amazon to Zillow, as well as stories touching on key topics, including real estate and travel.
• Work with business editors to identify and prioritize high-interest ongoing coverage areas, using Google Trends and other tools to spot emerging stories.
• Experiment with the role, which is a new position for our newsroom, while working with editors to find the cadence and story choices that work best for our readers.  
• Be inclusive in coverage, developing a range of sources and story ideas that fairly represent the rich cultural diversity of our region.    
• Collaborate with colleagues in Photo, Graphics and the Digital teams.

This position reports to the deputy business editor and is part of the business team, but the reporter will work closely with the morning breaking news team.

Qualifications   

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives.   

• Experience: At least three years of experience working as a reporter for a newsgathering organization.   
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience.   
• Requires excellent grammar and language skills, as well as familiarity with digital news production, social media and analytics.   
• Must be able to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., under pressure and on deadline, while using analytic tools to inform coverage.
• Must have the ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively.   
• Be able to work in high-pressure situations when big news hits and deadlines are tight.   
• Be willing to try new story topics and formats, always with an eye toward reaching audiences and driving subscriptions.   
• Cultural competence and awareness of best practices related to inclusive journalism.  
• Must understand and uphold the standards, ethics and mission of journalism at The Seattle Times.   

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $62,425 to $104,700. We typically pay between $62,425 to $85,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits: 

• Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
• 10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
• 9 paid holidays
• Monthly internet stipend for predominately remote employees
• Subsidized transit cards and parking costs
• Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
• Wellness program
• Fertility coverage (with lifetime limits) for eligible employees
• Parental leave options

Please Note: This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment assessments including a criminal background check, a drug screen (excluding cannabis), and a motor vehicle report once an offer has been made. This position requires that you have access to reliable transportation to respond to work assignments. If you opt to use a personal vehicle for transportation, you must be able to provide proof of a valid driver’s license and auto insurance meeting the company's liability limits prior to hire. Finally, please note that this is a union-represented position.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.