Location: Columbia, SC, US, 29201
The Associated Press seeks a reporter for an 18-month assignment covering state politics and policy in Columbia, South Carolina.
This position is part of the Report for America corps program and applicants will be required to apply to both organizations. Reporting to the Deep South news editor, the successful candidate will have a proven track record of developing sources and breaking original news, including by working with data sets and Freedom of Information requests. This reporter will have a passion for finding stories in local communities that have gone untold and make them resonate for a wider audience. The beat will focus on efforts to address the consequences of rising sea levels and more severe floods in a state where the political leadership has been skeptical of human-induced climate change. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in multiple media formats, from the field and from the desk, reporting on breaking news as well as beat-driven enterprise. This newsperson must have the ability and willingness to work any shift, including at night and on weekends, or as coverage demands, as AP is a 24/7 operation.
Qualifications: Candidates should have demonstrated excellence as a beat reporter, be able to envision stories for local, national and international audiences and to write about complex issues in a clear and engaging way. Applicants must be able to work swiftly and accurately on tight deadlines, and have reporting and storytelling skills in multiple formats, including photos and video. A background in state and local government, public policy and/or health policy is a plus, but not required. The successful candidate must be able to work effectively as a member of a team, and should have some experience at a daily newspaper, broadcast station or online or digital news outlet.
Application deadline is 11:59pm EST on January 31, 2020
Nearest Major Market: Columbia
Nearest Secondary Market: South Carolina