Arts and Entertainment Reporter (AJC)

Company

Cox Enterprises

Job Family Group

Editorial & Newsroom

Job Profile

AJC Reporter III

Management Level

Individual Contributor

Flexible Work Option

Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Travel %

Yes, 5% of the time

Work Shift

Variable

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary of $70,700.00 - $106,100.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Job Description

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking an ambitious, talented reporter to cover arts and entertainment in metro Atlanta.

The Atlanta area is a thriving center of events and entertainers, and a destination for visitors looking to experience its wealth of recreation options. An ideal fit for this job is a candidate skilled at reporting, storytelling and engaging residents and readers with coverage about all of it – from what’s on the minds of Atlanta’s influencers to what are the trendiest events for the weekend.

This reporter will be assigned to cover arts and entertainment, will include music, local celebrities, things to do, cultural trends, Atlanta’s cultural institutions (including the Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the High Museum of Art). This reporter will also have an opportunity for enterprise reporting that provides readers with context about the latest lifestyle topics and trends, from bringing readers an early look at Atlanta’s rising stars to the ways social media is shaping the political discourse. This would also include profiles of both ordinary people doing extraordinary things and people of note in the arts and across the entertainment spectrum. Generating story ideas and developing sources in all of these areas will be a key component.

This position requires a Wednesday-Sunday work week.

Job Responsibilities:

• This journalist reports and writes with a strong sense of urgency and energy, distinguishing The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s coverage and building loyalty among readers. 

• This reporter will build a network of community contacts in order to ensure awareness of those issues that resonate with our readers. It will be this reporter's responsibility to capture those conversations. 

• This reporter must be able to produce clean, organized publication-ready copy with a minimum of supervision. The reporter must be an adept storyteller who can translate institutional or entertainment industry actions into relevance for readers.

• The reporter will use various distribution outlets such as social and digital and must be able to use a variety of storytelling formats including video, audio and emerging digital-only formats. 

• The position also requires that the reporter use our metrics tools to understand and grow digital audience.

Requirements:

Years and Type of experience:

• 4+ years of professional journalism experience; internships and other related experience can be considered. Candidates may alternatively have a master’s degree with 2+ years of experience, a Ph.D. and up to a year of experience or 8 years of experience with no degree.

• Experience covering a beat with government and community connections preferred.

• Strong record of serving audiences in a fast-paced, productive environment that is shaped by research, audience metrics and audience needs in print and in digital.

• Social media experience

• Demonstrated experience with arts coverage in a major news market

Additional requirements:

• Ability to develop reader-focused story ideas and write about topics with clarity and accuracy. The beat requires news and occasional enterprise and accountability coverage.

• Organized and able to juggle multiple stories simultaneously and produce both daily and longer-term stories.

• Uses time effectively, meeting deadlines and producing an acceptable volume of work.  Consistently meets deadlines set for print and digital needs, including advance deadlines.

• Produces smartphone photos and videos and collects data and other information for maps, charts and other supplemental content. Digital skills are a growing part of this job.

• Generates work that is balanced, fair, accurate and complete, incorporating, where appropriate, a diverse range of sourc