Public safety reporter

The Patriot Ledger/patriotledger.com , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for a thoughtful and community-minded reporter who wants to help reimagine the public safety beat in a digital-first environment.

Breaking news, crime and courts will be part of the mix, sure. But the way we cover policing, criminal justice and our communities must change to hold law enforcement and other government agencies accountable, seek a more nuanced representation of the challenges we face, and rebuild trust with neglected communities.

You'll need to dig deeper and seek a wider perspective and cultivate diverse sources. You'll write about serious crime, scrutinize police tactics and spotlight social issues, while being sensitive to how our stories affect the various people and neighborhoods we cover.

An ideal candidate will be conscientious and collaborative, skeptical and comfortable with conflicting views. Flexibility is key, as are compassion and creativity: You'll cover a protest one day, interview a victim's family the next, and end the week crunching crime statistics and exploring other criminal justice trends. You're comfortable breaking a story online, adding additional nuance and facts in real time to lead the conversations in our communities.

Metrics and audience research will help guide decisions about how to cover topics and issues as you engage with readers on a variety of platforms to drive audience and subscriber growth. And the beat will evolve as you share best practices with network colleagues around the country.

This reporter is expected to have the range to handle breaking news, general assignment and in-depth, data-driven enterprise reporting.

The South Shore region of Massachusetts runs from the large towns and cities of Quincy, Braintree and Weymouth to suburban bedroom communities to beach and fishing towns. We are looking for a reporter to help tell diverse stories .

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3 or more years of professional journalism experience or significant internship experience
• High-level writing, communication and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well on deadline
• Ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and publication ready
• Understanding of reporting ethics and sourcing
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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