The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press seeks a talented multiformat journalist to report on the influence of misinformation at the state and local level, based in any city in the U.S. with an AP bureau. This job comes with an expansive assignment to help improve the storytelling of AP journalists who cover democracy and elections in the United States. This is a two-year grant-funded position with an opportunity to extend.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the democracy news editor, and working with AP’s politics, misinformation and state government reporters, you will focus on how voters are consuming, interpreting and sharing misinformation at the local level. Your reporting will focus on the actors who create misinformation and target their campaigns at state and local officials and their voters. Your reporting will emphasize reporting on the consequences of the misinformation and how that influences voting, elections and public policy at the local and state level. You will work to unearth and explain new dissemination techniques across social media and other platforms in real time and as they evolve. Your work will serve a global, digital-first audience with the goal of turning a spotlight on how misinformation is having a deep impact on public discourse and decision-making at the local and state level, and how that is having a broader effect on national politics and American democracy.

We’re looking for someone who will:

• work effectively as part of a team of reporters and editors across formats to deliver spot news and enterprise that breaks news and has impact.
• demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with the 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 communicate and drive stories that people will want to share, like and talk about on social media and other platforms.
• pursue innovative and inclusive coverage techniques while maintaining AP’s standards for integrity and objectivity.

Qualifications:

You’re a journalist who has experience covering government, elections and politics at both the local and state level, able to produce a mix of daily coverage and deeply reported enterprise, with a demonstrated ability to report across geographic regions, from rural America to urban centers. You should be comfortable working in multiple media formats, reporting on breaking news as well as beat-driven enterprise, and must be a self-starter who can generate ideas on the beat that resonate nationwide and around the world. You know how to develop sources at the local level. You must be able to explain complex stories in clear and compelling ways and do so swiftly and accurately. You should be able and willing to work at night and on weekends, as coverage demands, as AP is a 24/7 operation.

We will consider strong candidates who do not meet every listed qualification. You may use a cover letter to describe the unique qualifications you would bring to this role.

Other qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, such as at least three years of full-time work as an editor, reporter or social media producer at a daily newspaper, broadcast station, online or digital news outlet or AP bureau.
• All applicants must be able to work in the U.S. or be able to gain permission to do so.
• Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English. Professional competency in a language besides English is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects across formats and deliver success on complex, challenging story lines.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $50,653 - $80,714 contingent on experience and other job-related factors. Employees are eligible to participate, according to the terms of the official plan documents, in a 401(k) plan, employer-sponsored health insurance plan, and are eligible for paid time off and holidays in accordance with AP policy.

Application Deadline:  April 9, 2023 @ 11:59 PM ET

AP seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. We support all aspects of diversity and provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or status as a veteran. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.