Freelance Reporter in Tampa, Florida

"The Loop" is a new local news program in partnership with the Hearst-owned station in Tampa, Florida. The show presents a modern, locally grounded approach to news, featuring reporters and content contributors who live and work in the community. Produced by Oktant Productions, a New York-based production company with deep leadership experience in news, "The Loop" blends trusted journalistic standards with innovative storytelling.

"The Loop" is seeking weekend freelance reporters who value contextual depth over the breaking news grind. Functioning as a one-person newsroom with the backing of a forward-thinking production team, you will have the editorial freedom to pitch, book, shoot, write, and edit your own stories from start to finish.

• Own Your Beat: Identify, pitch, and book unique daily and long-term stories that reflect Tampa Bay's local voices.
• Operate Independently: Shoot, write, and edit complete reports in the field using advanced mobile production tools.
• Deliver On-Camera: File conversational, authentic reports grounded in community perspective with the ability to ad-lib off script.

• Weekend role based in Tampa, Florida, with deep knowledge of local neighborhoods and issues.
• Proven track record of independently pitching, booking, shooting, writing, and editing broadcast-ready field reports.
• Adaptable and eager to learn new systems and workflows to push local news to network-level standards.
• Editorial judgment and news sense: you know what makes a story relevant and how to make it resonate.