Staff Reporter

About Real Change

Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice to low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social and racial justice. For over 30 years, we have been a trusted hub for community, journalism, and economic opportunity in Seattle. Our Vendor Program offers immediate, low-barrier work to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Vendors are self-employed, earning income by selling the weekly, award-winning Real Change newspaper. Vendors are the heart of our organization, and centering their voices, agency, and success guides every department and every role at Real Change. We meet people where they are, without judgment, and support one another in reaching personal and professional goals. All Real Change staff are expected to bring this commitment to their work, actively welcoming vendor engagement, supporting vendor participation across the organization, and advancing our mission of economic, social and racial justice.

Position Overview

The Staff Reporter is a 40 hours per week, non-exempt position reporting to the Associate Editor. This position will be responsible for filing stories weekly in addition to enterprise journalism pieces. This position is key to fulfilling our editorial vision as the Seattle-area alternative newspaper of the progressive community: producing advocacy journalism focusing on issues of race and class that brings to light people, issues, and institutions insufficiently covered in other media.

Primary roles and responsibilities:

Reporting 50%)

• Work with the newsroom team to identify stories and plan coverage
• Gather news using contacts, sources, personal interviews, wire services, news briefings and/or press releases
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individuals and community organizations
• Develop or pitch supporting images and artwork for stories

Reporting 40%)

• Produce a minimum of two news/feature stories of 600-900 words each on a weekly basis
• Propose art/images/infographics for stories
• File long-form enterprise pieces as decided and guided by the newsroom team
• Participate in editing, copy editing and production duties
• Other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required

Reporting 10%):

• Archive all articles and editions of the paper
• Represent Real Change in the community and at events
• Attend weekly meetings and quarterly staff trainings
• Participate in cross-department committees
• Work with the Newsroom to provide weekly social content creation

Required skills:

• At least two years experience in news, journalism, or related field
• Ability to bring an anti-oppressive lens to all parts of this work, with a willingness to keep an open mind and continually self-educate
• Ability to conduct probing, professional interviews with a wide range of sources, including community members, officials, and subject matter experts
• Computer proficiency to learn/use Microsoft office, Adobe InCopy, and other basic programs
• Ability to take photos to supplement news stories, as needed
• Ability to work and communicate with volunteers on assignment
• Ability to synthesize complex information, to write and edit journalistic materials
• Strong time management & ability to communicate
• Ability to work independently and adhere to strict weekly deadlines
• Flexibility to occasionally cover evening or weekend community events as needed
• Work with the newsroom to ensure weekly deadlines are met, including working outside of regular working hours as needed.

This job description represents the minimum required level of performance necessary to be successful in the position and is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of functions or responsibilities that are required of the role. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time, and does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Compensation: Salary range is/year. The benefit package includes Health and Dental coverage, 3 weeks’ vacation, 2 weeks’ sick time, 11 holidays, 403(b) Retirement Fund with a 4% Real Change contribution, and annual professional development funds.

The benefit package includes Health and Dental coverage, 3 weeks’ vacation, 2 weeks’ sick time, 11 holidays, 403(b) Retirement Fund with a 4% Real Change contribution, and annual professional development funds.