Reporter

Reporter – The Daily News

Location: Batavia, New York

Job Type: Full-time, in person

Salary: $16–$18 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience

About the Position

The Daily News, an award-winning newspaper based in Batavia, N.Y., is seeking a motivated, curious and community-minded reporter to join our newsroom.

We're looking for a journalist who is passionate about local news, enjoys telling compelling stories and understands the important role community journalism plays in keeping readers informed and connected.

Community does not mean copying and pasting press releases. The success candidate will develop original story ideas while covering all aspects of a rural community, including hard and soft news, from business to government to education. There will be breaking news alongside community features and in-depth pieces. This all combines to create accurate, engaging content for both our print newspaper and digital platforms.

We've been traditionally known as a "serious" paper, but we strive to punch above our weight and have fun trying new ways to tell the story of our community.

Who We Are

The Daily News is a five-day-a-week newspaper serving Batavia and the surrounding communities of Genesee County and Western New York. In addition to our print edition, we provide daily news coverage online at thedailynewsonline.com.

We work closely with our sister publication, The Livingston County News, to provide comprehensive coverage of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties, collectively known as the GLOW region.

Located between Rochester and Buffalo, the GLOW region offers a vibrant mix of small cities, rural communities, agriculture, business, education and recreation — and no shortage of stories worth telling. The City of Batavia, for example, is undergoing a long-desired revitalization and Genesee County is in the middle of the state's data center debate.

Our mission is to provide meaningful, accurate and timely local journalism that informs our communities and reflects the people who live and work here.

What You Will Do

As a reporter for The Daily News, you will be responsible for developing, researching and reporting stories that matter to our readers.

Essential job functions include, but are not limited to:

Report and write accurate, timely and engaging news and feature stories for print and digital publication.

Cover local government, education, community events, business, public safety and other assignments.

Develop original story ideas and identify issues, trends and people of interest to our communities.

Build and maintain relationships with sources, community leaders and residents.

Conduct interviews, research public records and verify information to ensure accurate and balanced reporting.

Cover breaking news and provide timely updates for our digital platforms.

Work collaboratively with editors and fellow reporters to develop comprehensive coverage of important local issues.

Produce content that meets established deadlines and adheres to AP Style and the newspaper's editorial standards.

Assist with posting and updating stories on thedailynewsonline.com.

Take photographs and contribute multimedia content when needed. This includes working with our team on both live and produced video content.

Attend evening meetings, community events and occasional weekend assignments as required.

Perform other newsroom duties as assigned.

Who We Are Looking For

We're looking for a reporter who is naturally curious, resourceful and eager to tell the stories that matter to our communities.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Strong writing, interviewing and reporting skills.

An ability to write concise, creative stories.

Excellent news judgment and the ability to recognize compelling local stories.

A commitment to accuracy, fairness, journalistic ethics and attention to detail.

Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple assignments and consistently meet deadlines.

The ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative newsroom environment.

Comfort using digital publishing platforms and adapting stories for online audiences.

A willingness to learn new skills and embrace the evolving demands of community journalism.

A genuine interest in the people, institutions and issues that shape our local communities.

Previous newspaper or professional reporting experience is preferred, but we also welcome applications from promising early-career journalists who demonstrate strong writing ability, initiative and a commitment to local journalism.

What You Need

A bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Strong writing, reporting and interviewing skills.

Familiarity with AP Style.

Basic computer proficiency and the ability to learn newsroom publishing systems.

Reliable transportation and the ability to travel to assignments throughout our coverage area.

Availability for occasional evening and weekend assignments.

Photography, video production, social media and content management system experience are a plus.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $16–$18 per hour, depending on education, qualifications and relevant experience.

We offer full-time employees a benefits package that includes:

401(k)

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Flexible scheduling, subject to newsroom coverage needs

What Else to Know

As a trusted source of local news and information, The Daily News expects its employees to demonstrate honesty, integrity, professionalism and respect in their interactions with colleagues, sources and the community.

Our reporters must be dependable, deadline-oriented and committed to producing accurate journalism, even when working under tight deadlines.

This position requires regular in-person work at our Batavia newsroom, with travel to assignments throughout the coverage area. Reliable attendance and punctuality are essential.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and samples of their writing or published work to:

Ben

Email: [email protected]