General Assignment Reporter

About the organization:

The Tulsa Local News Initiative is a yet-to-be named startup nonprofit organization that has raised nearly $14 million so far in service of a vision to give everyone in Tulsa the local news they need. The newsroom will produce high-quality accountability journalism while working directly with residents to produce and distribute community reporting, employing an innovative model for local journalism that is directly responsive to local information needs. In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the Tulsa newsroom will have best-in-class community engagement expertise, multimedia production, dedicated capacity for service journalism and research, and Tulsa Documenters. 

At TLNI, we value learning, curiosity and diverse perspectives. We are dedicated to equitable hiring and follow best practices to create an inclusive hiring process.

Essential functions:

• Produce daily news stories on assigned beat or general assignment topics, balanced with longer-term enterprise and investigative projects that go beyond the daily news cycle
• Cultivate a diverse network of sources across Tulsa communities
• Engage directly with community members to identify and report on issues that matter most to them, working with the community engagement team to bring resident input into reporting
• Develop a deep understanding of local issues, events and power structures in Tulsa, using that knowledge to give readers context for larger trends
• Write in a solutions-focused voice and in formats that make information accessible and actionable for all residents, including guides, explainers and other service journalism
• Collaborate with reporters and editors in a daily newsroom that relies on teamwork, including on stories that cross into other beats
• Use multimedia storytelling techniques, including photography, video and data visualization, to make stories easy to understand for all audiences
• Work closely with editors to refine story ideas and improve reporting techniques, and meet deadlines for both daily stories and long-term projects
• Experiment with innovative storytelling formats and engagement approaches while adhering to the highest journalistic standards
• Participate in community events and forums as a representative of the newsroom, along with other TLNI events throughout the year
• Be an active participant in internal meetings and incorporate newsroom and organizational initiatives into your workflow

Consider applying if you have some of these skill sets:

• At least two years of experience in daily, local newsrooms
• Strong news judgment and strong communication and writing skills across news and feature styles
• Ability to work under deadline, prioritize work and manage multiple stories and projects at once
• Detail-oriented, with excellent organizational skills and a problem-solving mindset
• Ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of people inside and outside the newsroom
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when working with sensitive information
• Demonstrated commitment to local, public service journalism, with a track record of producing impactful reporting
• Experience with community-centered journalism and engagement practices
• Proficiency in using public records and data in reporting
• Proficiency in multimedia storytelling techniques and comfort with digital tools for newsgathering, production and audience engagement
• Knowledge of Tulsa communities and local issues
• Entrepreneurial spirit: the ability to thrive in a startup environment where team members are expected to learn as they go, think in innovative ways and build things from scratch
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends as news demands
• Multilingual skills valued, particularly Spanish

Compensation:

Salary range for this role is $55,000 to $63,000, commensurate with experience. In the spirit of transparency, we present our best offer upfront to every selected candidate — no back-and-forth negotiation required.

Benefits:

Full health benefits, including the employee’s medical, dental and vision premiums covered 100% and dependents covered at 50%; paid leave, including paid holidays, paid time off and personal time; and a 401(k) with a 4% match.

Training:

$2,000 annual reimbursement toward outside training and professional development opportunities

We’re committed to building an inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. Tulsa Local News Initiative, The Oklahoma Eagle and Tulsa Flyer are dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. We encourage people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations and marital statuses to apply.

Employment contingency:

All roles require standard reference checks and identity verification. Based on the role, additional pre-employment screening may be required, which may include checks such as a credit screening, a public social media review or an editorial review of past work.