Local Reporter, Phoenix

The New York Times launched a newsletter this summer in Minneapolis-St. Paul as a pilot for a new local journalism initiative. We are now expanding, and seeking to hire two entrepreneurial, digital-savvy journalists in Phoenix.

In this role, you will serve as host or contributor to The Local: Phoenix, a blend of essential and delightful information designed to make readers more connected to their community and more conversant around the news. The newsletter will be a bridge connecting Nashville to the full breadth of The Times and Games, Wirecutter, NYT Cooking and The Athletic. It will showcase high-quality independent journalism from local sources, and partner with Nashville news organizations.

You will help Phoenix natives and newcomers alike understand the forces driving change around them. You will introduce audiences to interesting characters and places; moderate and drive conversation; curate the best locally relevant content from a wide range of sources; and build relationships with readers through callouts, social media and in-person events.

Candidates should be deeply rooted in Phoenix and have significant experience covering the area, whether in news, politics, business, sports, culture or some combination. You must have a clear understanding of what makes their region tick as well as its media ecosystem and audience needs. You do not, however, need a traditional newspaper background — we are interested in storytellers fluent in a variety of forms and platforms. Experience as a “host” — of a podcast, newsletter, video series or live events — is a plus.

The reporters will work in Phoenix and be part of the newsletter team. Please submit resume, cover letter and about six work samples of any format — for example, newsletters, videos or traditional clips.

Responsibilities:

• Work with colleagues to shape the tone, structure and content of The Local: Phoenix

• Help select topics of focus, do original reporting, and incorporate items from others on the team

• Read, watch and listen widely and deeply across local media, including influencers, in order to support and showcase the best journalism in the region. When appropriate, partner on coverage and other initiatives with local outlets

• Collaborate with staff of The Local in other cities and New York to maximize reach and impact

• Experiment with formats and content mixes, including Q&As, features, data stories, explainers and visual presentations

• Seek out opportunities to connect with readers and build community, both online and in person

• Shape and maintain The Local's presence on social platforms, looking for opportunities to innovate

• Monitor the latest in how other news organizations and brands are engaging their communities and building fandom, and look for ways to leverage those ideas

• Help develop engagement goals and track our progress against them, using data to inform our understanding of what is working and to seed innovation and experiments

• Represent The Local at community/media events and help plan/run our own

• Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

• You will report to the Deputy Editorial Director, Newsletters

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years' experience working in digital storytelling

• Demonstrated superb news judgment, audience-first thinking and experience across breaking news, features, analysis and enterprise

• Prior work in newsletters and social media, and a love for/commitment to both (experience in video, audio and data-journalism are a plus)

• Comfort with analytics tools to yield actionable insights

• Facility with a variety of storytelling forms, including data-visualization and video

• Track record showing initiative and landing digital media projects

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to integrity, independence and accuracy

• Collaborative spirit, willingness to experiment and a sense of humor

• Deep connections to Phoenix, and sources in a variety of areas

• Omnivorous interests and ability to communicate conversationally

This position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.

REQ- 020665

Additional Compensation and Benefits:

For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs.

For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.

Candidate Use of GenAI Tools:

We’re excited to learn more about you and your experience. To keep our hiring process as fair and authentic as possible, we ask that you submit your own work and not use GenAI tools to generate substantive content during the application and interview process.

If you’re an engineering candidate, we’ll let you know what specific GenAI tools you are permitted to use for your technical assessment.

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world’s best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. To do so, we embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Know Your Rights Poster is available here. 

The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email reasonable.accommodations@nytimes.com. Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

For information about The New York Times' privacy practices for job applicants, click here.

Please beware of fraudulent job postings. Scammers may post fraudulent job opportunities, and they may even make fraudulent employment offers. This is done by bad actors to collect personal information and money from victims. All legitimate job opportunities from The New York Times will be accessible through The New York Times careers site. The New York Times will not ask job applicants for financial information or for payment, and will not refer you to a third party to do so. You should never send money to anyone who suggests they can provide employment with The New York Times.

If you see a fake or fraudulent job posting, or if you suspect you have received a fraudulent offer, you can report it to The New York Times at NYTapplicants@nytimes.com. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or your state attorney general.