The Ithaca Voice, the go-to source for Ithaca news, is seeking a full-time General Assignment Reporter to cover breaking stories and help with daily coverage of goings-on in the City of Ithaca, New York, and the surrounding area.

What we want

Founded in June 2014, The Ithaca Voice’s mission is to improve civic and political understanding in Ithaca and Tompkins County by publishing and sustaining in-depth, educational, rigorous, timely, and ethical journalism that all residents can access free of charge online. In this Ithaca-based role, the General Assignment reporter will be primarily responsible for ensuring that the Voice remains on top of stories relating to Ithaca government, economy, crime and courts, education, health, and other issues of local interest. The successful applicant will be an intrepid, innovative newshound who is comfortable with data and documents, human source-building, and narrative storytelling. Someone who can shape and land memorable, high-impact projects and publish quickly and accurately on a day-to-day basis.

This person must have good news judgment and be able to spot stories of importance and deliver that news fast and in an engaging way. The general assignment reporter should have a strong knowledge of current local affairs and an ear to the community. We are after a candidate who can bring a fresh perspective to our team, along with a strong work ethic and commitment to free, local journalism. A self-motivated, curious reporter with a knack for finding the news first is essential to our organization. The perfect candidate for this position is unflappable in breaking news situations and be steadfast in their pursuit of accuracy and fairness.

The candidate will also ideally possess a traditional reporting skillset, including a knowledge of AP style, but above all else have genuine interest in the Ithaca and Tompkins County community. Additionally, the following is essential for the General Assignment Reporter role:

  • Good command of language in order to tell an engaging story.
  • Again, good news judgment in order to determine relevant and important stories.
  • Is comfortable taking and editing photos for stories.
  • Can generate story ideas for daily stories as well as long-form features and investigative stories.
  • Can produce data-driven stories and is comfortable covering stories involving budgets and other quantitative datasets. Experience with data visualization is a plus.
  • A baseline understanding of news ethics including libel law, and a willingness to learn and engage in best practices.
  • Civic and cultural literacy.
  • Interviewing finesse.
  • Understanding of The Ithaca Voice’s mission.
  • Lives in Tompkins County.

Additional qualifications:

A BA/BS degree and 2-3 + years of relevant experience are preferred, equivalent combined education and relevant experience.

Experience and deep knowledge of Ithaca politics and government is preferred but not required. A willingness to learn is mandatory.

We know some great candidates won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Who we are

Here’s what you should know about The Ithaca Voice. We’ve had a commitment to quality local journalism and news reporting from day one. We understand not everything is a story for us — we have to make choices — but we’re always looking to expand our boundaries. We’re nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for the media these days obligates us to find a different, reliable and sustainable way to fund serious journalism. We’re nonpartisan and independent. We don’t need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives already in people’s heads. At the same time, nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called.

As an independent news organization, we have no editorial obstacles in pursuing the truth, just authentic and factual reporting and analysis, full of humanity and on the side of justice. All of us at the Voice believe the best way to achieve that mission is to resemble the community we cover. We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we’re taking steps to meet that commitment. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this role, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.

Location

This position is based in Ithaca, New York. The Ithaca Voice office is located in downtown Ithaca, steps away from the Ithaca Commons, City Hall, The Tompkins County Courthouse, and County Legislature. 

How to apply

To submit your application, please supply your résumé and examples of your work to Dustin Patte –– dpatte@ithacavoice.com. Please include a cover letter detailing your vision for this position and how you would approach the work. We can’t wait to hear from you.

The Ithaca Voice is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for all, and we encourage applicants of all identities, backgrounds, ages and abilities to apply.