About the job
Description

As Fort Worth grows and continues to become more diverse, we know that not everyone has the same opportunities and that many are treated unfairly, simply because of the color of their skin.The racial equity/diversity reporter will explore the challenges faced by people of color in our community with an eye toward accountability, raising awareness and creating conversation around solutions.

This reporter will explore situations caused by systemic racism, lack of investment in communities of color and lack of representation, among other issues, in areas such as criminal justice, economic development, governance, economic mobility, immigration, and access to housing, healthcare and transportation.

The reporter will also provide accountability regarding the city’s progress in addressing recommendations of the Race and Culture Task Force and the efforts of the newly established police monitor.

Here’s What Else You Need To Know

Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, adding about 20,000 people a year as it approaches a population of 1 million people. Businesses such as Lockheed Martin are growing, and companies such as Stanley Black & Decker and Amazon are moving operations to the city.

But as Fort Worth grows, it faces many challenges, around issues such as affordable housing, public transportation, economic mobility, access to healthcare and mental health services, systemic racism and more.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram plays a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting citizen engagement around the challenges and opportunities faced by people of color in our community. We believe that improvement begins with an informed and engaged citizenry.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism or related field and two years of experience in a digital-first environment preferred.
  • Spanish language fluency preferred.
  • Strong writing and reporting skills and excellent news judgment.
  • Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
  • Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of metrics/analytics programs including Chartbeat, Crowdtangle and Omniture and development of story ideas derived from data.
  • Understanding of SEO and other optimization opportunities and a demonstrated ability to learn new skills in social and digital.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism. The new workflows require constant conversations between reporters and editors and between reporters and their audience as a story evolves.
  • Understanding of open records law and ability to file, manage and oversee requests pertinent to beat work.
  • Ability to engage with readers and develop sources on social media platforms including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
  • Ability to develop breadth and variety of sources.
  • Ability to understand audience lenses and correctly identify audience for selected stories.
  • Ability to work on both daily and enterprise stories concurrently, delivering both with consistency.
  • Ability to meet deadlines.
  • Ability to capture video and edit it (using phone).

Ability to work collaboratively on projects ranging from podcasts to video to enterprise stories. We will work comfortably in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation and always evolving.
McClatchy is committed to providing equal employment opportunity (EEO) for all applicants and employees. McClatchy considers all candidates without regard to basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, medical condition, family care status, pregnancy or physical disability (except where physical fitness is a valid occupational qualification), or any other basis protected by state and federal laws.