Ballantine Communications, Inc. (BCI) is hiring reporters to cover some of the Southwest's biggest issues: immigration, health care, energy, water and land use, and education. This position will cover the Four Corners region which includes Farmington and San Juan County in New Mexico and Montezuma County in Colorado. Experienced and enterprising reporters are preferred. Reporters at Ballantine Communications are focused on readership and a growing online audience. We publish three printed editions per week in Farmington, NM and one per week in Cortez, reporters frequently are required to provide photos for their stories. Southwest Colorado and Northwest New Mexico offer uncrowded access to a national forest, regional ski areas, three major rivers and the San Juan Mountains.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Perform research on different topics;
• Analyze and interpret findings by breaking down data;
• Uncover newsworthy stories;
• Interview key people (witnesses, sources etc.);
• Write content with readers' needs in mind;
• Ensure your pieces are accurate and objective;
• Establish contacts and sources to use in future research;
• Maintain notes in written or electronic form;
• Contribute to content idea generation for publication;
• Stay up-to-date with local, national and international affairs;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, or related field. Four (4) + years of reporting experience preferred. Multimedia/social media knowledge and experience. Broadly applied software including Google products, and photography skills (video skills preferred but not required). English Language — Excellent knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. Proven ability to fact check information and follow strict deadlines.

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Position is subject to satisfactory completion of a background check and reference check. A valid driver's license is also required for this position.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This is a largely sedentary role. Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic). While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment; Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.

Work Environment:

Reporters spend a lot of time in the field, conducting interviews and investigating stories. They travel to be on location for events or to meet contacts and file stories remotely. When not in the field, Reporters will be in an office environment.

Pay:

From $40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person