The Kansas City Star is looking for a high-energy, self-starting and community-minded reporter to cover Platte and Clay counties in Kansas City’s Northland.
This reporter will be tasked with covering local government and other influential institutions with a strong focus on accountability, in a way that reflects and reaches residents north of the river.
They will find the topics that our Northland readers care about and will dig in, turning both quick stories each week and pursuing more enterprising angles. Story ideas will come from neighborhoods, not just meeting agendas. The reporter will be open to using callouts and other engagement tools to hear directly from residents about what they’d like to see covered and will utilize multiple story formats including service journalism-style explainers and fact checks.
This reporter will also work closely with our other politics and government reporters to keep an eye on how those in Kansas City, Jefferson City, Washington are delivering to the Northland.
The Northland historically has trended more conservative than other parts of the metro, but the area is fast-growing and in flux. From 2010 to 2020, the population in Platte County grew by nearly 20%, the highest increase out of all Missouri counties, and Clay County was close behind. Bursts of development including apartments, hotels, and bike lanes are changing the landscape of the suburban counties, especially in North Kansas City, which has a walkable downtown and the most diverse high school in the state.
This beat will have a particular emphasis on community engagement and building trust among readers and potential readers. This reporter will show up with doggedness and humility to demonstrate that The Star is committed to consistent coverage that is useful to residents. Participation in The Star's broader outreach efforts will be a requirement of this position.
The ideal candidate will have an understanding of how local governments and institutions work, although we don’t aim to tell traditional government stories. We are looking for stories that connect the decisions of those in power to the everyday quality of life of Northland residents in sharp, fresh ways. We want stories that check forces of power when they don’t follow through, as well as stories about the next generation of cultural influencers shaping the counties outside the halls of government.
The position will demand a keen eye for sharp news angles, strong source-building skills, and the ability to find scoops and produce revelatory, high-impact journalism.
We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal skills who can collaborate with editors, reporters, other staff members and residents. This reporter will work closely with editors and our audience development team to make sure we are reaching readers who have shown a thirst for this coverage.
What you'll bring:
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Strong writing skills and excellent news judgment.
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An unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
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An understanding of public records laws and how to use them.
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A collaborator who works well as part of a team.
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A self-starter who will develop a strong network of sources to find and pursue stories that will reach a broad audience.
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An interest in telling stories using a variety of media and engagement tools, and an enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies.
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Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of metrics/analytics and an understanding of SEO and other audience optimization tactics.
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Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism.
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Ability to work comfortably in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation and always evolving.
What we'll bring:
As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.
Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.
Apply: If you have experience that makes you a strong candidate for this position, we’d love to talk to you. Please include a cover letter, resume, and samples of your work.
About McClatchy:
Our impact is growing every day. Thirty growing markets. More than 65 million monthly readers. Fifty-seven 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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