News Reporter
McClatchy, Hilton Head Island, SC, United States
Tired of the traditional beats? We have an open position as creative and enterprising as the candidate we seek.
Immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful places in the country and do the kind of work that made you want to get into journalism in the first place. Hilton Head Island is 12 miles of beauty, wildlife, recreation, sun and sand. It is also 12 miles of tension - between residents and tourists, between native Islanders and affluent retirees, between preservationists and those who think we must move forward, and more.
The Island Packet is a seven-year-in-a-row winner of South Carolina's newspaper of the year contest with a history of great community reporting, such as how our love of nature was contributing to a rash of deadly accidents, and how the poor and naive are exploited to prop up a workforce to keep a shiny tourism industry humming.
Explore the thrills and dangers of what makes us unique. It's about "enforcer" HOAs who won't let you paint your house the color you want or park on your grass, about navigating dark nighttime streets with small, hidden store signage and dodging a family of bicyclists who haven't ridden in 20 years. It's about helping readers understand exclusive gated communities, wind and hail insurance, flood insurance, and fees for HOAs and mandatory golf club memberships that complicate home ownership. It's about sea turtles, sharks, alligators, deer and the balance of trying to live and play safely among them.
You will watchdog the people, politics and the money that will shape Hilton Head's future. Come be part of a place where you will grow and learn and do meaningful reporting that will both make you proud and have community impact.
The Island Packet is part of McClatchy, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States. In our Hilton Head reporter, we're seeking a versatile and resourceful journalist who is as skilled in public records as she/he/they are in knocking on doors to track down sources. You'll need a passion for accountability journalism and the drive to sift through data, dig through documents and cultivate sources.
And, with the entire city as your canvas, you must possess the ability to consistently and frequently find and produce the stories that matter most to our readers.
In this role, you will need to:
- Focus on stories that build readership
- Think about audience first and always, with a commitment to tactics that grow readership.
- Master engaging multimedia storytelling
- Demonstrate speed, competitiveness and SEO savvy
- Work well in a team environment.
- Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to "see the story" that is going to matter to readers.
- Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
- Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
- Ability to work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories.
- Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.
- Facility with data, public records and business reports.
To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your work.
About McClatchy
Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 57 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger.
As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth - a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It's an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We're growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.
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