Joining our rapid-response team requires a sense of what is fun, entertaining, quirky and, most importantly, what’s engaging our audiences. The Times Union is seeking a savvy reporter who can write breaking news posts, report on trends and also take deeper dives into the stories behind the headlines in the Capital Region. This is an area that’s known for innovation, thriving arts and great food, but there’s so much more to explore.
This position demands initiative, accuracy and insight. Our ideal candidate has solid news judgment and a strong understanding of the local communities. It also demands the ability to find and identify stories and trends that are immediate and important to our readers and potential subscribers. Strong writing and reporting skills are crucial.
This reporter will find unique angles to cover the most topical stories of the day with a focus on our audiences. This reporter should be familiar with, and focused on, the digital details of story production: headlines, SEO, multimedia assets and other points of optimization and promotion.
This is a full-time position and will include working on a weekend day each week. Other shifts or hours may be required as news warrants. This role will also require you to live in the Albany area of upstate New York, and will be hybrid/onsite.
Pay for this role will be around $28.72 to $33 per hour.
Your duties on the team
Works collaboratively with editors, other reporters, photographers and audience team members to tell impactful stories across platforms that engage and retain local subscribers and other readers
Reports and writes quickly and effectively to break news online and follows up when appropriate with more in-depth enterprise pieces
Contributes to social media and newsletters as needed
Demonstrates a comfort level with analysis of web and social metrics, using data to help inform coverage decisions and content promotion
Skills you bring to the team
Digital understanding of how news stories unfold cross-platform, including ideation around unique social components to digital storytelling
Strong news judgment and a strong sense of what stories will pop among readers and will potentially add to a broader news conversation.
Ability to make real-time coverage decisions in a daily news environment.
Passion for journalism that upholds truth and accountability and is grounded in the local community
Crisp, concise writing skills and diligent reporting with an understanding of AP style.
Requirements
Experience reporting and writing in digital media.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism, communications, English or the real-world equivalent with a record that demonstrates suitable preparation for this role.
Excellent news judgment and understanding of media ethics and law.
About us
The Times Union is investing in digital journalism. This role provides a unique opportunity for a journalist to make an impact in local communities.
The Times Union is committed to growing and retaining a more diverse workforce that better reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage all people of working age who are traditionally underrepresented in the media to apply, including women, people of color, applicants with disabilities, those from the LGBTQ+ community and veterans.
Some great candidates may not check all the boxes for this role. If you’re passionate, dedicated and interested in working with us but don’t have all the skills listed here, please still reach out and tell us more about what you bring to the table.
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Skills Required
- Experience reporting and writing in digital media.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism, communications, English, or equivalent experience.
- Excellent news judgment and understanding of media ethics and law.
- Strong writing and reporting skills with understanding of AP style.
- Familiarity with digital story production including headlines, SEO, multimedia assets, and content promotion.
- Comfort analyzing web and social metrics and using data to inform coverage decisions.
- Ability to work weekends and varied shifts as news warrants.
- Must live in the Albany, NY area and work hybrid/onsite.
Hearst Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hearst and has not been reviewed or approved by Hearst.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical plan choice, full in-network preventive coverage, dental and vision, telemedicine, prescription coverage, and fertility resources. Mental-health resources and other wellbeing services (e.g., therapy sessions, crisis support, virtual physical therapy, and chronic-condition programs) further strengthen the health offering.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as meaningful through a 401(k) plan with company matching and Hearst covering plan administration fees. Performance bonuses are also noted as available in some roles, adding an additional rewards component beyond base pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits include paid holidays, paid sick days, and vacation time with a commonly cited annual range, alongside paid parental leave and family medical leave. A remote work program and flexibility signals are also included as part of the overall rewards experience.
Hearst Insights
What We Do
Hearst is a leading global, diversified media, information and services company with more than 360 businesses. Its major interests include ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; global financial services leader Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; transportation assets including CAMP Systems International, a major provider of software-as-a-service solutions for managing maintenance of jets and helicopters; 33 television stations such as WCVB-TV in Boston and KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, which reach a combined 19 percent of U.S. viewers; newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Times Union (Albany, New York); more than 300 magazines around the world, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Men's Health and Car and Driver, and digital services businesses such as iCrossing and KUBRA; and investments in emerging digital entertainment companies such as Complex Networks.
