The Knoxville News-Sentinel and USA TODAY Network-Tennessee, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, are seeking a high-energy, endlessly curious Retail and Restaurant Reporter to join our business growth and development team.
Our business growth and development team plays a key role in growing audience by providing fast-paced, engaging journalism that helps readers navigate their lives, keep on top of local issues and trends, and connect with the community and world around them.
The right candidate understands that retail and restaurant news is of huge interest to people and speaks to quality of life and the health of the local economy. The reporter is SEO savvy, can spot high-interest topics using engagement tools like Google Trends and can work independently but also thrives in collaborative environments.
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Our retail and restaurant reporter focuses on these key areas:
- Developing deep relationships in the business, development and entrepreneur communities.
- Finding and answering key questions local readers are asking on search and social, sometimes before they ask them.
- Creating service journalism content in companion to local topics in the news.
- Reporting more on what's trending and part of the conversation in Knoxville, East Tennessee and the state to help readers understand the importance/impact locally around national news Localizing national trending stories in a service-journalism way with approaches that relate to the questions readers are asking about breaking news.
- Amplifying breaking news coverage.
- Crafting evergreen, seasonal ideas when local buzz or breaking is lighter. This includes reporting relevant to reader curiosity, an engagement series or light accountability work.
The successful candidate will need to:
- Possess strong writing, reporting and multimedia skills.
- Display excellent news judgment and journalism ethics.
- Be a constant generator of story ideas and able to produce content early and often during peak audience periods.
- Have a knack for SEO-driven headlines and other audience-driving strategies.
- Be nimble and able to adjust swiftly to shifting news demands.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Reporting experience, preferably in a digitally focused news organization.
- Commitment to detail, accuracy and fairness.
- Ability to multitask and excel under deadline pressure, using time efficiently.
- This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
- The position is based in our Knoxville, Tennessee newsroom.
Life in Knoxville
Knoxville combines the best of urban and outdoors life in one of the most beautiful settings in America, on the banks of the Tennessee River and in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains. The city is home to the University of Tennessee, which adds even more energy to a dynamic city that hosts internationally recognized chefs, a thriving independent retail scene, world-class outdoors venues, including the renowned urban wilderness, and the elite athletics of the Southeastern Conference. It's also home to the critically acclaimed Big Ears music festival created by Bonnaroo founder Ashley Capps, who lives here and helps nurture a thriving original music scene that draws artists from across the globe. And the cost of living will wow you - it's one of the country's more affordable urban areas in a state with no income tax.
Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
1. Your resume - one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
3. Examples of at least five stories you're proud of. Try to include some that you turned quickly and that used alternative story forms.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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