Education & Health Reporter

West Central Tribune and WCTrib.com are seeking an education/health news reporter for our newsroom operation based in Willmar and covering west central Minnesota. The successful candidate will cover education and health stories and issues in our city and region. The reporter will be passionate about local stories on schools, colleges, health, issues, people, and general news. We are part of the Forum Communications Co ., a family-owned leading media and technology company proud of our continued growth in the upper Midwest.

Job description:

• Original reporting and stories for West Central Tribune and wctrib.com, with an emphasis on local education, health and general news in Willmar and west central Minnesota.
• Create daily digital content - a combination of original content (briefs, videos, etc.) and curation of local, relevant content and information for digital and social media audiences.
• Live reporting (Facebook Live, live blogging, etc.) as news and events warrant a more immediate coverage approach.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local sources, community groups, schools, colleges and health providers; represent the West Central Tribune in the Willmar and west central Minnesota.
• Drive audience loyalty and digital growth through engaging and timely content.
• Respond with urgency to breaking news, which includes writing stories and producing visuals on deadline with a digital audience in mind.
• Assist in posting to social media channels as a way to engage the community, share content and updates, and drive loyalty among readers.
• Collaborate with other content creators and news teams in the Forum Communications Co. network to identify strong regional, state and niche content that will appeal to our readers.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Education and experience:

• Writing in college or professional experience for a newspaper, website, magazine or specialty publication is required.
• Experience using digital analytics and social media tools is preferred.
• Basic knowledge of video and photo editing is preferred.
• Some experience in proofreading or editing is preferred; AP Style knowledge is a plus.
• A journalism or communications degree is preferred.

Forum Communications Company:

At Forum Communications Company, our legacy is deeply rooted in harnessing the power of communication to connect and inform people in the communities we serve. Since 1917, everything we do is driven by creating and sharing information, ideas and insights.

Today, we're a leading media and technology company that's home to a family of people whose passion and purpose is fueled by collaboration and innovation. We believe in supporting each other, working hard towards common goals and having fun.

Come for the perks: Excellent employee culture, competitive pay, 401(k), company-paid volunteer time, health and wellness initiatives for all employees. Additional perks for full-time positions include: comprehensive benefits package, generous paid time off, paid holidays and paid time off for birthday, paid parental and pregnancy disability leave for qualifying employees.

Stay for the people: Family-owned and operated since 1917; development and growth opportunities; inclusive, creative culture; safe working environment; employees of all ages and backgrounds; positive collaboration.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Forum Communications Co. currently does not offer employer sponsorship.