NJ.com is seeking an experienced journalist to cover politics, conflict, and power struggles in New Jersey's towns, school districts, and local and state government agencies — the stories that fracture communities and hit closest to home.
The Local Politics Reporter will zero in on the politics of local flashpoints — school board fights, town hall power struggles, and the controversies that spill from one community across the entire state — and elevate them through detailed reporting, sharp writing, and engaging storytelling.
We want a dogged journalist who will find the next mob hitman-turned-councilman and the next mayor who declares war on his own town's schools. We seek a versatile reporter who can cover everything from a contentious school policy fight to a town council power struggle, with the range to step into Statehouse issues — the state budget, Gov. Mikie Sherrill's agenda — when they directly affect Jersey residents and their wallets. And we require the rare journalist who can drill down on the smallest detail but write with sweep, scale and smarts.
Coverage will include breaking news, short-term enterprise and trend pieces, but there could be opportunities for longform stories.
We're also looking for reporters who think beyond the written word. Fluency in social video storytelling, podcasts, and other multimedia formats is a plus — we want someone who can bring these stories to life across myriad platforms.
We're committed to building a newsroom that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. In this position, you will be part of a dynamic and inclusive team focused on local journalism for one of the country's largest privately owned media companies.
The pay rate for this position is $65,000 - $85,000 annually.
This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources and cover events.
Our ideal candidate will have the following:- A bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- A minimum of five years in journalism with a proven ability in reporting and writing required, preferably including experience in investigations.
- A sound understanding of newswriting, journalistic ethics, and story structure.
- Possession of a clear and engaging writing style.
- An ability to cultivate sources in government, advocacy groups, educational circles, and other demographics offering unique and visionary coverage.
- A demonstrated capability in capitalizing on high-value topics by engaging audiences in frequency and urgency.
- Proven experience building, maintaining, and engaging an active audience.
- An understanding of the methods and tools used to deliver content across a variety of platforms.
- Experience using social media to find stories and promote content.
- An ability to work independently under deadline pressure and prioritize assignments.
- An ability to work collaboratively with editors and fellow reporters.
- A willingness to keep abreast of industry advances and proactively consider new methods of reaching audiences.
- Comfort and fluency in multimedia storytelling formats — social video, podcasts, and beyond — a plus.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience
- At least five years of journalism experience with proven reporting and writing ability
- Experience in investigative journalism
- Understanding of newswriting, journalistic ethics, and story structure
- Clear and engaging writing style
- Ability to cultivate sources in government, advocacy groups, educational circles, and other communities
- Ability to identify and capitalize on high-value topics through audience engagement
- Experience building, maintaining, and engaging an active audience
- Understanding of methods and tools for delivering content across multiple platforms
- Experience using social media to find stories and promote content
- Ability to work independently under deadline pressure and prioritize assignments
- Ability to collaborate with editors and fellow reporters
- Willingness to keep current with industry advances and consider new audience-reach methods
- Comfort and fluency with multimedia storytelling formats, including social video and podcasts
- Reliable transportation for meeting sources and covering events
Advance Local Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Advance Local and has not been reviewed or approved by Advance Local.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental leave, caregiver leave, and adoption support are presented as notable strengths within the package. These family-focused provisions stand out for employees who prioritize care-related benefits.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — Coverage includes gender-affirming care, autism habilitative services, and digital physical therapy. This breadth of inclusive options is described as broader than many standard employer plans.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off and holidays are highlighted as solid components of the overall offering. These provisions help position the benefits as decent even when base pay is seen as average.
Advance Local Insights
What We Do
Advance Local, one of the largest media groups in the United States, operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching more than 50 million people monthly with its quality journalism and community engagement.
