Food Reporter

We’re looking for an energetic reporter to join a four-person food team dedicated to covering Tampa Bay’s dynamic and growing food scene. An influx of people and development in the region has spurred the growth of both independent restaurants and national chains in the past decade. The introduction of the Michelin Guide in Florida a couple years ago upped the ante even more.

This competitive beat will focus on restaurant news. The reporter will closely track openings and closings and other shifts within the greater Tampa Bay region. We’re looking for someone who can develop sources and utilize reporting tools to generate scoops in a beat that blends food and business reporting. The work should reflect the vast variety of food we have in Tampa Bay, from fine-dining restaurants to popular national chains to hole-in-the-walls offering international fare.

This reporter should pitch their own story ideas but also be able to respond quickly to breaking news and a variety of assignments. They will be asked to occasionally pitch in on other food topics and, less frequently, local entertainment and events news.

We’re looking for a collaborative individual who is willing to engage with Times readers and the public in a variety of ways, including participating in Times-led community events. We’d also like someone who can cover food not just in text and stories but in social videos and audio formats. Our readers clamor for food coverage, and we want this reporter to help us own this space in Tampa Bay.

Please submit a resume, cover letter and include any relevant work samples.

Responsibilities

· Find great stories that are fast-moving and highly readable.

· Understand and use audience metrics to help increase readership.

· Write quickly and often.

Requirements

· Strong news judgment, well-versed in journalism ethics.

· A deep curiosity and high energy.

· Experience at a college publication is a plus. Ideally, applicants have completed at least one professional internship or job.

· Eagerness to collaborate across the newsroom and ask questions.

· Open to late evening work and occasional weekend work.

· Must have reliable transportation.

INDTBT

Benefits for Full-Time Eligible Employees:

· Health coverage for you and your family through medical, dental and vision plans.

· 100% employer-paid short term and long-term disability.

· 100% employer-paid basic life insurance.

· Supplemental life insurance.

· Tax advantages through flexible spending accounts that allow you to pay for specific health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

· Tax-Deferred Savings Plan for retirement.

· A generous PTO program and much more...

Our organization is committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the vibrant and diverse communities we serve. We welcome qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical abilities, genders and sexual orientations.