Multi-Skilled Journalist - Public Safety

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.

WXIA-TV (11Alive), the TEGNA-owed NBC affiliate in Atlanta, GA is recruiting an engaging Specialty Multi-Skilled Journalist to focus on news and issues related to public safety.

Atlanta is one of the fastest growing major cities in the U.S. and people adore living here, but the city is not without its challenges. We know safety is paramount to our audience.

Taking on safety as a beat involves much more than reporting overnight crime. 11Alive is committed to reporting crime in context: shining a light on policing, community and policy solutions, as well as failures and successes of the criminal justice system. In short, you will be our expert on both problems and solutions to protect our growing city and suburbs as a safe place to live, work and raise families. Pitching ideas on this beat will be your niche, and you’ll be expected to seek out opportunities to ask tough questions of decision makers and go behind the scenes.

This is not a job for beginners. In this role, you will partner with the Managing Editor to generate both daily and enterprise stories that appear across all newscasts and digital platforms. Many of those story ideas will come from viewers, and we respond! The ideal candidate also thrives in a live breaking news environment, brings the ability to create informative graphics, and proves a strong knowledge and understanding of policing, government, and courts.

We believe our newsroom culture sets 11Alive apart because of our news managers’ strong commitment to our employees’ professional growth, training, regular feedback, and mentoring.

This position is exempt and reports to the News Director. If you are an innovative self-starter with experience covering matters related to public safety showcasing a variety of perspectives, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities: 

• Respond to news and break stories on the public safety beat
• Perform live reports and interviews
• Collaborate with producers, assignment and digital editors, and co-anchors
• Communicate with the public information officers and emergency personnel
• Develop contacts and turn stories relying on those relationships for newscasts and online platforms
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or related field
• Minimum of 10 years’ of on-air experience as a general assignment reporter or a strong interest in covering public safety as a beat.
• Demonstrated ability to post graphics and content to various digital media platforms.
• Strong understanding of how federal, state, county and local governments work together to pass and enforce laws
• Strong skills presenting developing stories in a live format
• Availability to appear live in early evening newscasts, as needed
• Camera and editing skills, strongly preferred
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced and deadline driven environment.
• Current valid driver’s license and excellent driving history
• Familiarity with Atlanta or a reason to relocate here, a plus

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.