The Bradenton Herald seeks a fast, sharp and fearless breaking news/general assignment reporter to join our digitally driven newsroom on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

We’re looking for a journalist who thrives in the adrenaline of fast-paced news coverage and who can quickly pivot to deeper enterprise when the dust settles. You’ll need to be relentless in your reporting, obsessive about accuracy and passionate about serving our readers with urgent, essential coverage that puts them at the center of the story.

Our journalism focuses on our local communities, and in that role we have the ability to spotlight problems, highlight solutions and truly make a difference — all the reasons you got into journalism. And we are part of McClatchy Media Company, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States.

At the Bradenton Herald, we pride ourselves on bringing the news that matters most to our community — and being first to report it. We’ve chronicled everything from hurricane emergencies to corruption probes to environmental disasters — and we’ve done it with speed, precision and context. 

Our newsroom is based in Bradenton, a coastal city rich in character, located between Tampa and Sarasota. We cover Manatee County from the shores of Anna Maria Island to the farms of Myakka City. It’s a diverse area offering an ideal mix of natural beauty, local flavor and community spirit. Whether you're paddling through mangroves, catching a spring training game or exploring the renowned Village of the Arts, you'll find no shortage of compelling stories — and reasons to stay.

In this role, you will need to:

• Report on breaking news quickly and accurately, with urgency and context that helps readers understand what’s happening and why it matters.
• Prioritize stories that build digital readership and engagement, especially on social platforms.
• Embrace a digital-first mindset, using smart SEO practices, social tools and emerging platforms to grow audience and reach.
• Use public records, databases and live reporting to dig beneath the surface.
• Pitch enterprise and follow-up stories that go beyond the breaking news headlines.
• Collaborate across the newsroom and communicate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Produce clean, compelling copy, with attention to visuals, headlines and presentation.
  
  

WHAT YOU’LL BRING:

• Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a knack for identifying what will resonate with readers.
• Ability to react quickly and provide updates on developing stories.
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Experience with social media, live blogs and digital publishing tools.
• A collaborative spirit and eagerness to learn and grow with a team.
• Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
• A track record for innovation, learning and using new skills and technologies, especially AI.
• Comfort with a job that’s demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.
• Reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and up-to-date vehicle insurance (at least the minimum required by Florida law).

McClatchy Media’s journalists are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage artificial intelligence and other automation to enhance and elevate their work and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on source-building and high quality, deeply reported journalism.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• College degree or equivalent work experience.
• 1-3 years of reporting experience preferred; internships and freelance work count.
  
  

WHAT WE’LL BRING:

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. 

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, the Kansas City Star and the Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month. The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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Salary/Compensation: $21.64 - $25.00 per hour