Service And Trending Reporter

Service And Trending Journalism Reporter

The Des Moines Register is seeking a service and trending journalism reporter to be part of its Connect Team, reporting and writing stories that connect our digital audiences with news and information that helps them navigate their everyday lives.

Successful candidates for the Connect Team will be deeply curious, highly competitive and enjoy quickly researching and writing stories on a wide range of topics. This reporter will chase news, sports, politics, business and entertainment and celebrity stories that deliver what readers need to know and answer their questions.

This job requires an understanding of social media platforms, audience metrics and SEO techniques; quick, tight, lively writing; and a competitive mindset determined to see one's work at the top our pageview charts each day. Connect Team members receive extensive training on SEO, audience analytics and headline writing — core skills that will help you excel in this beat and any other beats you wish to pursue.

It's a high-volume beat, responsible for three short posts most weekdays. Doing the job well requires much more than curation. This reporter is expected to pitch a handful of high-audience-potential ideas each morning, add smart context, seek out appropriate multimedia and do original reporting to add value to a reader's experience. The job also requires writing inviting headlines and social language to lure the biggest possible audience.

Des Moines is a growing state capital city that is home to a vibrant arts and entertainment scene and a large community of young professionals living downtown. The Des Moines Register is a 17-time Pulitzer Prize winner with a national reputation for its political reporting. We reach readers across the state with our daily Des Moines Register editions, our award-winning DesMoinesRegister.com website and other publications.

Key skills needed:

• Ability to thrive under deadlines and publish multiple stories every workday.
• Outstanding audience-focused news judgment and ethical standards.
• News writing that needs little editing and delivers everything the headline promised, and more.
• Headline-writing skills that capture readers' attention.
• Familiarity with SEO and Google Trends and taking immediate action on what's hot on social media.
• Experience watching analytics and immediately acting on them.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2 years of experience in professional journalism writing, editing, digital production or social media roles.
• Top-notch planning, organizational and time management skills.
• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer, pre-employment background check, drug screen and motor vehicle record check.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, show us what you've done. 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. Links to 10 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do.

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.