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The Associated Press seeks a reporter for an 18-month assignment covering state politics and policy in Salem, Oregon. 

Responsibilities:   

This position is part of the Report for America corps program and applicants will be required to apply to both organizations. Reporting to the Northwest news editor, the successful candidate will have a proven track record of developing sources and breaking original news, including by working with data sets and Freedom of Information requests. This reporter will have a passion for finding stories in local communities that have gone untold and make them resonate for a wider audience. The beat will focus on the societal consequences of the booming tech industry, especially housing affordability and availability, and the income gap between the uber wealthy and everyone else. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in multiple media formats, from the field and from the desk, reporting on breaking news as well as beat-driven enterprise. This newsperson must have the ability and willingness to work any shift, including at night and on weekends, or as coverage demands, as AP is a 24/7 operation. 

The successful candidate will: 

• Work among a team of journalists, reporters and editors to deliver spot news and enterprise coverage that breaks news, has impact and is exclusive to AP, with a strong focus on accountability journalism. 

• Have strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of journalists at the AP who operate in all formats: text, photo, video, audio, digital/social, interactive and graphics. 

• Have a great news sense, with the ability to explain complex issues in an accessible way 

• Be willing to pursue innovative coverage techniques while maintaining AP’s standards for integrity and objectivity. 

Qualifications:  

Candidates should have demonstrated excellence as a beat reporter, be able to envision stories for local, national and international audiences and to write about complex issues in a clear and engaging way. Applicants must be able to work swiftly and accurately on tight deadlines, and have reporting and storytelling skills in multiple formats, including photos and video. A background in state and local government, public policy and/or health policy is a plus, but not required. The successful candidate must be able to work effectively as a member of a team, and should have some experience at a daily newspaper, broadcast station or online or digital news outlet. 

Other qualifications: 

• Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent experience. 

• Authorization to work in the U.S. will be mandatory. 

• Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English. 

• Professional competency in Spanish is a plus. 

• Basic proficiency in using an iPhone for photos and video is required. Advanced proficiency is a plus. 

• Demonstrated strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects across formats and meet deadlines. 

Application deadline:  January 2, 2020 @ 11:59PM EST

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