Community and service reporter, Signal AKRon

Job Title: Community and service reporter

Reports to: Editor-in-Chief

Position Status: Regular, Full Time, Exempt

The community and service reporter is a critical member of the Signal Ohio reporting team. The role reports directly to the editor in chief. You will lead in the creation of service journalism including a library of guides, explainers, and other journalism that translates reporting about government, education, criminal justice, economics and other complicated or difficult-to-understand topics into content that helps people thrive and live better lives.

This work will also include assignments as a general assignment community reporter who works with our government and economics reporters to ensure our coverage of the City of Akron is comprehensive and fulfills the information needs of our audiences. This position is a great way to expand skillsets and build experience in a variety of areas as well as work collaboratively with two highly experienced reporters.

Your coverage will be visual, useful, impactful, proactive, rigorous and responsive to the needs of residents. This position will work closely with our Community Journalism Director and the Akron Documenters to surface the most pressing questions and information needs in the Akron community.

You’ll have the opportunity to report on stories at the neighborhood level as we continue to build our newsroom’s identity in the community and engage with residents via our website, newsletters and on our social media channels. We also value meeting and connecting with our readers and subscribers, so we are in our downtown Akron office three days each week.

The community and service reporter will also work with reporters and editors across the newsroom to identify service angles and stories of general community interest to produce a steady stream of content, along with identifying stories we should be promoting on our social channels to engage and grow our audiences. Your work will help make the newsroom Akron’s go-to source for how things work in Akron.

About the organization

Signal Ohio’s network of independent newsrooms delivers in-depth, community-centered journalism. Our coverage spans the arts, education, health, government accountability, and economic issues, ensuring residents have the information they need to engage civically.

Launched in 2022 with Signal Cleveland, Signal Ohio expanded its network of newsrooms into Akron in 2023, which has since grown to a newsroom of nine reporters and editors. Our coverage areas include culture and arts, government, business, public safety, and health. In addition, we have a dedicated “How To 330” library of explainers, guides and other civic resources to help residents navigate local government and learn about public resources.

Signal Ohio newsrooms bring to light the most critical issues affecting communities across the state, raise awareness about the resources available to local residents and help residents make informed decisions about the issues that shape their lives. Our unique reporting model, anchored in community perspectives, has elevated the standard of news coverage and amplified the voices of underrepresented and underserved communities to highlight nuanced perspectives and enrich civic and community engagement and dialogue.

Signal Statewide, the third newsroom in the Signal Ohio network, covers policy and politics for all Ohioans. The first phase of the Signal Cincinnati newsroom launched in 2024 with the launch of Cincinnati Documenters.

We employ innovative models for local journalism that are directly responsive to local information needs. In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, our Akron newsroom incorporates audience engagement and social media expertise, social media and multimedia production and the Akron Documenters program, which trains and pays Akron residents (more than 300 to date) to document local public meetings and participate in broader news gathering and distribution efforts.

Essential Functions:

Produce a steady stream of local service and community-based journalism that will serve Akron residents as an accessible and primary source of information they need to understand important news and information.
Keep your finger on the pulse of what residents are interested in knowing about navigating life in Akron, and take the lead in ensuring the newsroom is responsive to their interests.
You will be responsive to community information needs about how things work in Akron, along with community-based stories that will resonate with all Akron residents, from speakers’ First Amendment rights at City Council meetings to getting an appointment at a local health clinic or applying for SNAP benefits.
Work collaboratively with reporters, editors, community representatives and Documenters across the newsroom to identify service angles and produce content that helps people take action.
Show ability in producing alternative story forms that can be easily understood and communicated to our audiences.
Be an advocate for accessibility and relevance in the newsroom — help editors and reporters see opportunities to make their content easier to understand for all of the newsroom’s audiences.
Independently identify issues and suggest ways to simplify and explain information using multiple story forms on multiple platforms
Work with the EIC to develop an editorial strategy for their work and what will be prioritized.
Work within a daily newsroom operation that is deeply collaborative, relies on teamwork and centers on a community reporting program that partners directly with residents to help inform coverage priorities.
Help to develop a library of service content across a broad range of topics that address questions from Akron residents including navigating systems, dealing with basic needs, and other things that come up in daily life.

Consider applying if you have some of these skill sets:

5+ years of experience telling stories on multiple platforms using audio, social media and/or video.
You enjoy writing from the perspective of your readers, and you’re good at content formats that are easily digestible for people, such as lists, step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and anything else that will serve your audience.
You’re a fountain of ideas and you’re a prolific writer.
You’re always looking for ways to create engaging and visual content across multiple platforms
Demonstrated commitment to local, community-focused public service journalism.
Strong news judgment and writing skills
Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize work.
You’re good at spotting opportunities for action and solutions in stories.
Adept at problem solving, detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
Experience with and/or strong understanding of building digital audiences
Experience with and/or strong understanding of building iterative, digital-facing content
Flexible and entrepreneurial spirit — you can thrive in a startup environment where you are expected to learn as you go and think outside the box.
You thrive on working collaboratively with others. Ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of individuals internal and external to the newsroom.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
Strong communication and writing skills.
Interpersonal/communications skills — willing to negotiate and talk through issues in an honest and clear manner.
Ability to maintain confidences when working with sensitive information.
Ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of individuals internal and external to the newsroom.
An ability to be a supportive part of a team.
You are someone people often turn to for advice on how to get things done or for your knowledge about life in Akron; you get energy from helping people solve problems.
Familiarity with facilitating community gatherings, knowledge of community building best practices.
Practice a growth mindset, have the ability to see opportunity even in the midst of challenges.