As a salaried employee, hours will vary, but a news reporter must be able to work a minimum average of 20 hours per week. A news reporter will cover news and write features on assigned beat areas and will be specifically expected to:
- Write a minimum of 55 inches of copy per week
- Write at least one enterprise story per term
- Issue a minimum of one blog post per day and issue more as necessary to provide up-to-date, complete coverage
- Issue blog posts as requested by the news and/or managing editors and editor in chief Issue breaking news Twitter alerts as necessary
- Work with your news editor and fellow reporters to generate story ideas and Podcasts
- Call or visit at least one source per day to casual inquire about story ideas
- Spend time in the venues where your beat’s news unfolds; for example, as city and state politics reporter, visit the courthouse at least once weekly
- Ensure that your writing is accurate, fair, clear and complete
- Work with your editor to improve your writing
- Become extremely familiar with the rules of Associated Press and Emerald style
- Ensure that all sources in the assigned beat areas are regularly (at least once a week) covered
- Insert a photo or graphic tip on the budget for every story. Be prepared to take your own photos, shoot video and record audio to accompany stories whenever necessary, or at the request of a news editor, managing editor or editor in chief
- Prepare at least one breakout box for every story
- Finish all writing on deadline
- Keep regular office hours
- Attend required staff meetings and weekly desk meetings
- Monitor the news daily to keep abreast of issues that need to be covered, and see that no pertinent news is missed
- Set individual goals each term to improve journalistic skills
- Contribute to supplements as needed
Direct supervisor: News editor
