INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

About The State Journal

The State Journal is small but mighty, having won Kentucky’s best mid-size daily newspaper award (Kentucky Press Association) for six of the last seven years — including the last five straight. Our reporting aims to positively impact the lives of our neighbors, and we are looking for someone who shares that vision of journalism as a public service. We serve Franklin County and Frankfort, Kentucky’s state capitol.

Our newsroom is led by Chanda Veno, the State Journal’s first-ever female editor and recent recipient of the John Fleischaker Freedom of Information Award for her work exposing sexual abuse at the Franklin County Regional Jail. She was also named Boone Newsmedia Journalist of the Year in 2022. Design Editor Hannah Brown has earned KPA Journalist of the Year honors each of the past three years in the daily division.

Our staff is talented, passionate about their work and deeply familiar with the area. This position is an addition to our existing team — not a replacement. We look forward to continuing to grow and improve our journalism with this addition.

Description:

We’re building a new model for sustainable and impactful community news. Frankfort’s news cycle is constantly evolving, and we think community newsrooms should be flexible enough to meet that reality. This reporter’s charge as a general assignment reporter will be to do good journalism wherever it’s needed. This role will be oriented towards the public’s civic interest and responsive to the needs of Frankfort/Franklin County citizens. You will work alongside four other journalists to meet those needs as a team.

Feature stories are expected to be hard-hitting and to provide information that readers couldn’t get anywhere else. The State Journal newsroom will give this reporter the flexibility to pitch stories from any beat and the guidance to see them through; we hold weekly brainstorm and planning meetings, and you will be in constant contact with your editor.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable getting out of the office and engaging with people from all walks of life as they are asking hard, necessary questions of those in power. This role requires someone who wants to add value to the community through their reporting while adhering to the journalistic values of accuracy, timeliness, fairness and avoidance of bias. We’re looking for someone energetic, creative and courageous.

From a journalist’s perspective, Frankfort is your oyster.

Minimum Requirements:

A positive attitude
1 year of professional reporting experience or equivalent (i.e., student publications)
Reporter must live in Frankfort or in close proximity. Our newsroom allows for some remote work, but journalists are expected to be in the office or out in the community for a majority of their week.
A familiarity with — or eagerness to learn — the use of data, documents and state open records law to enhance reporting
Willingness to learn basic photography skills
Access to a vehicle and a valid driver’s license

Next Steps

Please submit a resume and 3-5 work samples to chanda.veno@state-journal.com. In that email, provide us with a brief summary on why you are applying for this position.