Correspondent/Reporter

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Job Category: Online | New Media
Job ID: 12124
Employment Type: Full time
Salary: per year
Posted: 01.26.2025

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Occupations:

Job Description:

Lookout Local is now expanding, as we open in our second community, Eugene-Springfield, Oregon early next year. https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/

We are proud to have won the breaking news Pulitzer in 2024 for our coverage of our area’s unprecedented January, 2023 flooding.

We seek highly skilled journalists for the Lookout Local’s second site as we build a modern company of journalists and friends in a collaborative, in-office, community-centric environment.

Our mission is to repopulate news deserts, not by protesting the financially driven chains, but by creating better local news and local news products, ones that earn both membership and advertising dollars every day. We are building robust local news companies — meant to serve their communities and last. We stand for trustworthy, local, independent journalism. Join the team and apply today. 

We seek correspondents to populate our newsroom team of 15, with these beats of special interest: politics and policy, K-12 education, higher ed, business, environment/public health, sports/Ducks, arts and entertainment, high-end GA.

We will review all applications that include a resume and cover letter.

 

Correspondent

Position Overview:

Correspondents will offer readers timely, useful, and connect-the-dots reporting that distinguishes the Lookout model. Readers know our correspondents through the bylines and photos and look to them for reliable news and information.This role involves working deeply into beats, collaborating with colleagues on both breaking news and in-depth pieces, and excelling at narrative storytelling. The ideal candidates will provide fair, accurate, and non-partisan news, work at the cadence of digital publishing, and be enthusiastic about the responsible use of newer technologies. We’re looking for journalists who see the power of revived local journalism and have the skills and enthusiasm to be part of a new team doing it.

Responsibilities:

• Reporting and Storytelling:
  • Provide timely, useful, and connect-the-dots reporting on assigned beats.
  • Create narrative stories that give readers a fair, accurate, and non-partisan sense of the news that matters most to them.
  • Collaborate with colleagues on breaking news and in-depth pieces.
  • Conduct thorough research and investigations, verify facts and cross-check information to ensure reliability.
  • Write clear, concise, and compelling stories in various styles, from breaking news to in-depth features. 
  • Look for ways to help readers participate in their communities and to be of service to them.
• Digital Proficiency:
  • Work at the cadence of digital publishing, ensuring timely updates and responsiveness to breaking news.
• Collaboration and Teamwork:
  • Collaborate with fellow journalists and editors to share insights, story ideas, resources, and expertise.
• Community Engagement:
  • Engage with the community to understand their needs and interests, reflecting this in reporting.
  • Build and maintain a network of sources and contacts. Develop relationships with key community members, officials, and experts.
  • Represent Lookout Eugene-Springfield at community events and forums.

BENEFITS

• Full-time benefits include highly competitive medical, dental, and optical benefits, and 401(k) with matching.
• Good PTO allowances
• An opportunity to make a significant impact on and contribute to the revival of local journalism.
• A collaborative and mission-driven work environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Lookout Eugene-Springfield is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status

Job Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Proven, relevant experience as a journalist with a track record of timely and impactful reporting.
• Strong narrative storytelling skills with a commitment to fair, accurate, and non-partisan journalism.
• Proficiency with digital publishing tools and a keen interest in emerging technologies.
• Deep understanding of beat reporting and the ability to develop and maintain a network of sources.
• Demonstrated ability to serve readers’ news and information needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Passion for Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s mission and a deep understanding of the local community.