Crime and Public Safety Reporter

Summary:
The San Diego Union-Tribune is looking for a crime and public safety reporter, with a specific focus on the San Diego Police Department. The position also calls for coverage of breaking news across the region and broader criminal justice and public safety issues that affect the community at large.
We are looking for a versatile journalist who will become well-versed in the issues important to the San Diego region. The successful candidate must be able to juggle aggressive beat work and breaking news while bringing an enterprise approach to the role, focusing on deeply reported, high-impact journalism. This reporter should have a good understanding of law enforcement operations and culture, and work diligently to mine sources within the police world and beyond. The successful candidate must also bring a watchdog mindset to the beat and embrace community-driven reporting.
What you will do:

• Provide impactful enterprise stories and daily news reports for prominent display in print and on digital platforms
• Build a network of sources
• Write on deadline in a fast-paced environment; speed and accuracy are critical
• Pitch story ideas on a regular basis
• Maintain communication with a supervising editor
• Understand and use company-provided hardware, software and cloud-based equipment and systems for company business and tasks
• Contribute to a positive culture of teamwork and collaboration
• Work periodic night/weekend/holiday metro reporting shifts

What you will bring:

• A minimum of five years of journalism experience or equivalent
• Academic degree or equivalent experience in journalism
• Ability to simplify complex subjects in a clear, engaging way
• Command of various journalistic writing forms, including narrative and explanatory, with solid news judgment and fluency in style
• Proven ability to juggle multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment
• Commitment to the fundamentals of journalism: Fairness, accuracy, accessibility
• Strong interpersonal, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills and an ability to work with people at all levels and across departments and divisions.
• The skill to mine human sources, documents and data
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required

The hourly wage is $28.84 - $35.67 Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, time in role, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, MediaNews Group offers a comprehensive benefits package, and 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).
Who we are:
The San Diego Union-Tribune, a subsidiary of MediaNews Group, is San Diego's largest media company and its oldest business, dating back to the founding of the Union in 1868.
Today, Union-Tribune publications reach more than 96 percent of San Diego County households each week. The company portfolio includes its Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune; the region's leading website, SanDiegoUnionTribune.com; weekly entertainment guide Night + Day; lifestyle magazine Pacific San Diego; The San Diego Union-Tribune en Español; and nine community newspapers: the La Jolla Light; Del Mar Times; Encinitas Advocate; Solana Beach Sun; Carmel Valley Times; Poway News Chieftain; Rancho Santa Fe Review; Ramona Sentinel and Rancho Bernardo News Journal.
Part of the mission of The San Diego Union-Tribune is to build a stronger, more inclusive San Diego, through our coverage and our community events. A diverse, inclusive, transparent workplace is instrumental in that effort. To better reflect and serve the community, the Union-Tribune is sharing the demographic data of its staff and management team and will track it over time to measure improvement.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
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