Gannett

The Commercial Appeal and CommercialAppeal.com, part of USA Today Network, are hiring a reporter to cover DeSoto County, the fast-growing north Mississippi area that is a bedroom community for Memphis and has seen dynamic retail, restaurant and business growth.

This reporter will focus primarily on growth and development in DeSoto County, but also help with dining coverage across the Memphis area.

The reporter will also maintain a robust presence on social media, sharing stories and using the platforms to make sources and discover stories ideas.

We expect this reporter will have strong video capability and be able to turn enterprise stories as well as news and trending stories.

The Commercial Appeal, the region’s dominant news organization, is located in Memphis, population 630,000. The CA covers Shelby County, a vibrant, diverse county of 1.1 million people where Memphis is the county seat. In addition to FedEx, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, International Paper and AutoZone are international companies based in Memphis. The entertainment and food scenes are unrivaled, and Beale Street is an iconic entertainment district. The city is also home to the NBA’s Grizzlies.

Responsibilities:

• Creates storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
• Works toward becoming the community’s leading voice in area of expertise.
• Promotes personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Report quickly, clearly and accurately and deliver news, via stories, video, Facebook, X, Instagram or any other methods available to reach our audience.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and shape beat strategies.
• Cultivates a beat.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of writing/journalism/newsroom experience preferred.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and "publication ready."
• Is passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-breaking, stressful situations.
• A desire to grow and develop a key beat in our newsrooms.
• Is comfortable using social media such as X, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understands reporting ethics and sourcing
• Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital-first mission.
• Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
• 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, motor vehicle record check and drug screen.

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:

Your resume – one or two pages, samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

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.

#Newsgnt

#LI-CB1