Freelance Reporter

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) serves local communities across the U.S. through trustworthy journalism, engaging content, and tools that help people navigate their daily lives. Through customized marketing solutions, we help businesses grow and thrive. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches approximately 100 million people every month across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. For more information, visit TEGNA.com.

WUSA-TV, Tegna's affiliate in Washington D.C, is looking for a Freelance Reporter to help maintain our tradition of superior reporting and newsgathering. We are interested in finding a journalist who can create unique, memorable and well written stories, who can share them on all platforms with a mix of outstanding photography and unforgettable editing. If you're a creative storyteller who understands true multi-platform journalism and who is not bound by the methods of traditional TV news – we want to hear from you!

This freelance position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and receives health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union. This position is also paid a daily rate, listed in this posting, as expressed in such collective bargaining agreement.

Responsibilities: 

• Perform authoritative, compelling live shots in a developing story or in breaking news situations
• Develop story ideas
• Mine the community to find sources who will keep you informed about events and ideas in their areas of expertise
• Ability to identify, write and produce stories within a specific framework.
• Research for facts and credibility.
• Maintain and develop sources who will help bring our reporting to the next level.
• Shoot, write, produce and edit on air and online content within deadlines.
• Use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media (viewer pictures, webcam interviews, etc.) to enhance stories.
• Use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content.
• Attend editorial meetings and offer story ideas daily.
• Write in an exciting, captivating and authentic manner.

Requirements: 

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent years of experience
• 5-7 years reporting experience preferred.
• Must possess solid news judgment, display strong communication skills, creativity, and ethical decision-making skills.
• Strong writing skills, production skills and tease writing abilities.
• Proficiency in Spanish a plus
• ENPS, EDIUS and Axis graphics experience is preferred.
• Must be organized with the ability to work under constant deadlines.
• Must be able to calmly handle live breaking news situations and changing events.
• Proven social and digital content creation ability.
• Knowledge of Washington DC market a plus 
• This position is full-time, hourly and Union represented.

Benefits: 

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.

Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre-tax basis to TEGNA’s 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.

Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.

TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per year. 

* Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.

EEO statement:

TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. We value and consider applications from all qualified candidates without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. TEGNA will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email askhr@tegna.com 

Recruiting Fraud Alert:

To all candidates: your personal information and online safety are important to us. Only TEGNA Recruiters or Hiring Managers will reach out to you regarding consideration of your application or background.  Communications with TEGNA employees will either come from a TEGNA email address with a domain of tegna.com or one of our affiliate station domains.  

Recruiters or Hiring Managers will never request payments, ask for financial account information or sensitive information such as social security numbers. If you are unsure if a message is from TEGNA, please email askhr@tegna.com.