Reporter: Austin Common Austin Common

Are you a journalist with a passion for coming up with creative ways to share news and information?

Join our team as a staff reporter.

The Austin Common is an award-winning local news site and civic education organization that uses art and social media to make learning about local government easy-to-understand, accessible, and even a little bit fun!

This is a full-time reporter position, with a focus on covering health and the environment. In particular, this reporter will assist with our new "So You’ve Been Doomscrolling About…" project, which will connect big, anxiety-inducing issues (that our community has been doom scrolling about) with stories about who’s in charge of these issues, what’s being done about it, the impact, and potential ways to make it better… all at the local level.

The goal of this project is to go beyond the headlines and focus on real solutions to our community’s everyday problems.

The ideal candidate is adept at social media and multi-media reporting.

• A community builder. You believe that news shouldn’t just be broadcast at people… newsrooms should be built by and for the community they serve.
• An experimenter. You’re bursting with creativity and eager to play with new ways to share news and information.
• A creative chameleon. You’re just as comfortable creating content for social media (both in-front of and behind the camera) as you are collaborating on an illustrated explainer.
• A civic nerd  genuinely care about the future of our city, are knowledgeable about local government, and have a knack for explaining complicated concepts so they’re more accessible to the public

• Reporting local news stories, with a focus on health care, housing, and environmental justice. This will include:
  • Working with the Editor-In-Chief to pitch story ideas
  • Attending City Council or Commissioners Court meetings (as needed)
  • Interviewing community members, government officials, and other experts
  • Building relationships and connecting with Austinites with lived experience related to the issues you’re covering
  • Researching and fact‑checking stories
• Producing news stories designed for social media. This will include:
  • Writing short‑form video scripts
  • Filming and editing short‑form videos
  • Appearing in short‑form videos
  • Working with our Artist‑In‑Residence to create visual guides and infographics based on stories you’ve produced or reported
• Working in partnership with the Editor-In-Chief to co‑produce and co‑report stories. This will include:
  • Collaborating on new story ideas
  • Assisting with research, filming, video editing, and fact‑checking
• Connecting with community. As a truly community‑driven newsroom (that serves younger people and others who don’t regularly read local news), connecting with community is important to us. This will include:
  • Occasionally attending community events, including art fairs, meetups, craft nights, etc.
  • Occasionally tabling at or speaking at community events to share out your reporting with members of the local community
  • Participating in listening sessions so that your reporting best serves the community

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience with local news reporting (either at the professional or internship level)
• Knowledge of Austin’s city government
• Experience with solutions journalism
• Experience with video editing software, like Cap Cut or Adobe Express
• Experience turning dense topics (like zoning or the electric grid) into engaging social content.

• $60,000/ a year + $550 monthly benefits stipend
• 3 weeks paid vacation each year + 2 weeks of company‑wide off‑time (1 week between Christmas and New Year’s and 1 week in the summer)
• Professional development opportunities, including conferences and other national and local leadership development programs

• Full‑time salaried position
• 40 hours a week (Monday – Friday, with occasional weekends or evenings, as needed).

This is a work‑from‑home position, based in Austin, Texas. The reporter must be able to attend regular city meetings and community events at the local level, as well as weekly in‑person meetups with the rest of the team.

The Austin Common is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.