Temporary General Assignment Reporter

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is seeking a temporary General Assignment Metro Reporter. This job focuses on breaking news during weekends and evenings. The reporter must be flexible and eager to handle general assignments and breaking news duties on crime, traffic, weather, obituaries, demonstrations and live updates. This reporter will also cover enterprise and feature stories that explore our unique corner of the country.

The length of this job is approximately one year, starting in mid-May.

Responsibilities:

• Cover a wide range of topics with the ability to quickly come up to speed on unfamiliar subjects. 
• Work with an assistant metro editor, a rotation of weekend editors and the broader metro team to make fast decisions to prioritize news needs. 
• Be inclusive in coverage, developing a range of sources and story ideas that fairly represent the rich cultural diversity of our region.  
• Collaborate regularly with colleagues in photo, graphics and the digital team.
• Be a good team member. This reporter will work with other breaking news reporters. We pride ourselves on trusting and supporting each other and being flexible during unexpected moments of need.

Schedule: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1:30 to 10 p.m. Monday to Wednesday. This is a hybrid role requiring some work in our Seattle office.

Qualifications:

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom, and we 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 one year of experience working as a reporter for a newsgathering organization. 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience. 
• Requires excellent grammar and language skills, and familiarity with digital news production, social media and analytics. 
• Must be able to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness and fairness under pressure and on deadline. 
• Must have the ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively. 
• Be willing to try new story topics and formats and evaluate and learn from the outcomes of those experiments, 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 from $62,425 to $75,000, 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
• Sick time accrued at .0385 of an hour for every hour compensated; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
• 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 for controlled substances (excluding cannabis), and a motor vehicle report once an offer has been made. This position requires that you have access to a reliable personal vehicle to respond to work assignments. In addition, 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. 

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.