The Charlotte Observer is looking for a reporter who is deeply curious, has a wide variety of interests and is passionate about producing well-crafted explanatory journalism that goes behind the scenes to help our local readers understand how and why something happened or is happening.
The Emerging News Reporter will see potential stories around every corner, with an emphasis on quick-turn pieces about emerging local trends and high-profile news events. You need to be a strong writer and an engaging storyteller who sees things through the eyes of our local readers, can anticipate the story and explain what’s behind it.
Charlotte is teeming with story possibilities, from the quirky and off-beat to the essential and consequential. The Emerging News Reporter is a self-starter whose initiative and drive helps them land untold stories of high interest to a regional audience of nearly 3 million residents.
Among the fastest growing cities in the country, Charlotte is ripe for audience-focused explanatory journalism around:

• News that spotlights emerging issues
• Diversity and equity issues
• Trending news topics
• Quick-turn accountability
• Stories with impact on breaking news

As local news coverage evolves, we’ve remained committed to core topics, such as local government, education, underrepresented communities, criminal justice and growth and development.
This reporter will aggressively seek out and consistently produce differentiated stories on those topics and more. The Charlotte Observer is intensely focused on local readers and growing our subscriber base with journalism they cannot get anywhere else.
The Emerging News Reporter will scour the area for quick-turn stories that will resonate in a competitive and diverse news market. The reporter is nimble, takes pride in being well-sourced and springs into action in the most significant moments.
This reporter uses audience metrics to help point them to good stories, while also keeping an ear to the ground and eyes wide open.
The reporter values a supportive newsroom culture of belonging and inclusivity, is collaborative and prefers a team atmosphere in which your colleagues are your biggest fans. The reporter will be provided training and mentorship opportunities and experience a commitment to your professional development.
What You Should BringIn our Emerging News reporter, we’re seeking a versatile and resourceful journalist who is as skilled in public records as she/he/they are in knocking on doors to track down sources. You’ll need a passion for accountability journalism and the drive to sift through data, dig through documents and cultivate sources.
In This Role, You Will Need To

• Focus on stories that build readership
• Think about audience first and always, with a commitment to tactics that grow readership.
• Consider ways to integrate multimedia storytelling
• Work well in a team environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories.

Minimum RequirementsThe successful candidate should meet many, though not necessarily all, of the following requirements:

• College degree or equivalent work experience
• 3-5 years of reporting experience.

What We’ll BringThe Charlotte Observer in 2023 was the recipient of 30 North Carolina Press Association Awards, including receiving top honors for General Excellence Websites in North Carolina.
The Observer this year was named second-place finisher for the Headliner Award for reporting on the disruptions and problems resulting from a backlogged autopsy system. The Observer also exposed the catastrophic consequences resulting from aggressive Homeowners’ Association rules that far too easily lead to people losing their homes, and covered a fatal fire that pointed to inspection failures.
Our journalism focuses on our local communities, and in that role we have the ability to spotlight problems, highlight solutions and truly make a difference -- all the reasons you got into journalism. And we are part of McClatchy, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States.
As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.
Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.
To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work when you apply.
About McClatchyOur impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 57 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger.
As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth—a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.