Description
We're looking for a staff writer focused on news to help us tell important, timely and engaging stories about the Mile High City.
Westword has an immediate opening for a full-time staff writer in Denver. Focused on news reporting, this staff writer will work under the guidance of experienced editors in a small but scrappy newsroom with a history of excellence, including numerous national and regional reporting awards.
Since its founding in 1977, Westword has carved out a place in the cultural firmament of the Mile High City. We're looking for a reporter with at least two years of newsroom experience who can find, report and write daily news stories covering a wide range of topics, while upholding our reputation for hard-hitting journalism. We value ambitious reporting, well-crafted prose, an engaging voice and savvy use of social media.
Benefits
- Compensation range of $58,000-$60,000, depending on experience.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
- 10 paid holidays, 14 days of paid time off, five paid sick days per year.
- Hybrid work policy based in our Denver office.
How to apply
Westword believes our journalism will best serve our communities with a culturally diverse staff and freelancers who offer a range of voices. We are committed to creating and sustaining an environment of inclusion, diversity, empowerment and equality. We are at our best when all our team members are respected and included regardless of race, age, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation and national origin. Women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color and gender-nonconforming candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Email a cover letter, resume and links to three to five clips that show your skills and range to den-staff-writer@voicemediagroup.com. Please put News Reporter in the subject line.
Requirements
Key responsibilities of the job
- Pitch, report and write a variety of stories for our news section, producing an average of four written articles per week.
- Attend public meetings, town halls, political rallies, court hearings and other events to find people who make important decisions and those who live with the consequences. The job sometimes requires evening and weekend work.
- Build broad and diverse relationships so that your sources, story ideas, research and reporting reflect the diverse communities.
- Use social media to find trending topics, discover sources and promote your work.
- Dedicate yourself to accuracy and professionalism.
- Contribute to our annual Best of Denver issue and other projects.
Who you are
- A naturally curious reporter with a record of crafting crisp prose on deadline.
- A diligent writer and critical thinker who values constructive feedback on your work.
- An experienced reporter across at least some of our areas of focus: politics, government, public health, criminal justice, cannabis, labor, education and the environment.
- A cheerful communicator who collaborates fluently with colleagues.
- A highly organized, resourceful and nosy self-starter who reads widely and gets excited to make open records requests.
- Bilingual, we hope.
