Junior Reporter

Appen Media Group seeks a junior reporter to help us tell the untold stories of our community.

About:

Appen Media Group (AMG) is a family owned news media company located in the Northern suburbs of Atlanta. The company was founded in 1990 by Ray and Christina Appen, two veteran newspaper executives formerly with Knight-Ridder/Miami Herald. While they continue to work in the company, it is now led by their son, Publisher Hans Appen, and Executive Editor Dan Whisenhunt. Appen Media Group purchased the company the executive editor founded, Decaturish.com, in 2024.

Salary:

$42,000

• 45,000.

Reporters who meet all of our expectations are also eligible for performance bonuses.

Beats:

To be determined, but could include any communities and beats covered by Appen Media Group and Decaturish.com. QualificationsThis job is intended to be a role for someone beginning their journalism career. Everyone on our team contributes to our coverage, including the editors, and producing excellent work is a shared responsibility.

We want a candidate whose work demonstrates the following qualities: timeliness, usefulness and resourcefulness. We want someone who will be a team player and will adopt a digital-first approach to every story.

Our minimum requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in journalism or equivalent experience (two years consistently writing/freelancing for another publication).
• Someone who is proficient in following Associated Press style guidelines.
• A hard-working attitude and a willingness to take on new challenges
• A commitment to fairness and telling the truth without fear or favor
• A desire to produce reporting that advocates for the most vulnerable members of our community
• Having reliable transportation and the ability to attend in-person meetings in our coverage area.

Our ideal candidate would have:

• Familiarity with the metro Atlanta area.
• Experience working with content management platforms, including Blox Nxt
• Experience working with a digital-first publication.
• Experience taking photos
• An interest in appearing on multi-media platforms, such as podcasts.

Responsibilities:

• Filing at least two bylined stories daily, Monday through Thursday, for publication online and in print. Filing stories on the weekends as needed
• Working collaboratively with the executive editor and managing editor to produce articles for Appen Media Group
• Helping the managing editor and executive editor with Appen Media email products
• Meeting deadlines established by the editor and executive editor.
• Uploading stories to Blox Nxt
• Attending meetings in person whenever possible, remotely when necessary
• Covering breaking news as needed.
• Taking photos to accompany news articles
• Collaborating with Appen Media Group's media partners on newsgathering efforts.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Hybrid work environment
• Three weeks of paid leave per year.

Appen Media is looking to fill this role quickly.

• This job has a proposed start date of July 6Send your resume, cover letter and three-to-five samples of your best work to dan@appenmedia.

com. Please put "Junior Reporter" in the subject line.