Senior Government Reporter - Frisco

A Reporter delivers local print and digital content to the reader, providing coverage of stories within the community they serve, which involves collecting information, interviewing sources, developing relationships, and writing accurate, intelligent, and engaging stories. Duties include writing articles for a monthly newspaper, generating digital content for the website and daily newsletter, and developing story ideas for content through their reporting.

A Senior Reporter shares the same required knowledge, skills, abilities and responsibilities as a Reporter & Reporter II, but has additional qualifications and responsibilities specific to their position, such as producing shared content, copy fitting all of their own content, editing other writers’ stories, contributing to department training, helping other teams as needed, and filling in for their editors whenever required.

Note

While our office location is in Frisco, Texas, this role will cover updates for Frisco, but also in Celina, and will cover not just government, but transportation, business, healthcare, and real estate updates.

Experience in interviewing and writing

College degree—preferably in journalism—or related coursework

At least 1 year of experience with Community Impact , including 6 months as Reporter II

At least 2 years of full‑time experience with print or digital publication(s), or equivalent experience

Familiarity with AP Style

First‑rate reporting and writing skills

Proficiency in writing both hard news and features

Excellent organizational and time‑management skills

Ability to hit monthly print and daily digital deadlines

Excellent news judgment and ability to generate story ideas

Ability to learn industry‑specific software, including content management systems

Ability to perform assigned job responsibilities in a timely manner with minimal supervision

Reports directly to Editor and indirectly to Managing Editor

Access to reliable transportation

Shoot photographs for stories as needed

Contribute ideas for graphics and sidebars for each story

Adhere to Community Impact ’s editorial stylebook and AP style guidelines

Generate original story ideas and present them at internal planning meetings

Develop, maintain, and grow a network of news sources and community contacts

Commit to the highest level of accuracy and complete all writing within established deadlines

Beat coverage, including regular in‑person meetings of city councils, school boards, or other entities

Represent the company in a professional manner at networking events and other external functions

Interview news sources in person (occasionally from the desk) and from a variety of perspectives to ensure accurate reporting

Investigate, analyze, and interpret newsworthy events within the assigned community to produce and write original, engaging, and content‑appropriate news stories and features

Comply with other job‑related instructions and perform any other duties the Editor, Managing Editor, General Manager, or any other supervisor(s) consider reasonably related to their primary job responsibilities

Helping produce shared content for the newsroom, metro, and state

Must complete additional training required for additional job responsibilities

As needed :

Copy fitting their own content

Serving as a peer to new CI reporters

Filling in for other writers and understaffed markets

Taking ownership of daily content and newsletter planning

Provide training, including metro trainings or department‑wide Lunch & Learns

Copy fitting other reporters’ stories and doing first reads on other writers’ stories, except leads

Taking on the editor’s role in planning meetings, graphic pitches, and any other necessary meetings

Starting hourly rate of $26.74 ($55,620 annually) or more with experience

Mileage Reimbursement : $135 monthly stipend for gas, mileage, and tolls

Paid Time Off : 112 hours annually

Paid Holidays : 10 per year, plus an additional paid day off for your birthday

Comprehensive Benefits :
Medical, Dental, Vision, and Employer‑Paid Life Insurance

Additional Coverage :
Supplemental insurance options, including Accident and Critical Illness

Career Growth :
Opportunities for advancement and development.

If you are ready to make a real difference in your community, apply today.