6 free templates by outlet type for small and digital newsrooms: general, local news, multimedia, trade, sports, and a first-newsroom-hire version, with the FLSA non-exempt and overtime guidance for journalists that generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
A reporter researches, reports, and writes the stories that keep your audience informed, and for a small local paper, a digital startup, a nonprofit newsroom, or a trade publication, it is one of the most important hires you make. The posting you write sets the beat, the formats, and the expectations, and it carries one compliance question that almost every template skips: whether the reporter is exempt from overtime. For most reporters, the answer is no, and getting that wrong is a documented source of litigation in the media industry.
At FirstHR, we build templates for the small and digital outlets that handle hiring themselves, which is exactly where reporting jobs now concentrate as legacy newsrooms shrink. The six templates below cover the role by outlet type: general, local news, multimedia, trade, sports, and a first-newsroom-hire version. Each leads with the FLSA classification question the generic templates ignore. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
A reporter researches, reports, and writes news on deadline. The headline issue when hiring one is the FLSA: most reporters are non-exempt and owed overtime, because Department of Labor guidance says there is no across-the-board exemption for journalists, and a reporter who collects and organizes public information is not an exempt creative professional. Only primarily editorial, on-air, or investigative reporters may be exempt. Spell out the irregular hours, travel, mileage, and equipment. Federal median pay is about $60,280 a year. Download six templates as DOCX, by outlet type, with the FLSA guidance built in.
What a Reporter Does
A reporter researches, reports, and writes timely, accurate stories for a publication's audience. The work blends source development and interviewing with fast, accurate writing on deadline, and increasingly with multimedia and social production. A reporter covers a beat, verifies facts, and produces fair, well-sourced journalism, often on an irregular schedule built around news rather than a fixed workday.
How the role looks depends on the outlet. The federal occupation is news analysts, reporters, and journalists, a field the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks as shrinking, with new hiring shifting to small local, digital, and nonprofit outlets. A local reporter covers community beats, a multimedia journalist produces across formats, and a trade reporter covers a specialized industry. If you are hiring a broader umbrella role, the journalist templates may fit, and a content or corporate-communications role may suit the content writer templates.
Reporter Duties and Responsibilities
Reporter duties cluster into four areas: reporting and writing, sourcing and interviews, multimedia and digital, and ethics and standards. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match your outlet and beat, rather than listing every possible task.
Reporting and writing
Research, report, and write stories on deadline
Cover beats, events, and breaking news
Write clear, fair, well-sourced copy in style
Sourcing and interviews
Develop and maintain sources
Conduct interviews and verify facts
Pitch ideas and follow the beat
Multimedia and digital
Produce or support photo, video, and audio
Post and grow audience on social
Optimize for web and search where relevant
Ethics and standards
Follow journalistic ethics and accuracy
Meet editorial standards and style
Represent the outlet professionally
The weights shift by outlet: multimedia production for a digital role, source development for an investigative beat, deadline speed for sports. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by your outlet type and beat. The core structure is the same across all six, but each one emphasizes the duties, formats, and schedule that fit a specific kind of reporting role. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then make it specific to your newsroom.
General Reporter
Any outlet
The universal baseline: research, report, and write news on deadline across print, web, and social. Start here and adapt to your beat.
Local / Community News Reporter
Local newspapers, digital
For community coverage: local government, schools, and events, with the evening-meeting, travel, and mileage realities of beat reporting.
Digital / Multimedia Journalist
Digital-first outlets
For digital newsrooms: written plus video, audio, and social production, SEO, and audience analytics at the center of the role.
Trade / B2B Staff Writer-Reporter
Niche industry publishers
For trade publications: an industry beat, expert interviews, and authoritative business writing for a professional audience.
Sports Reporter
Sports coverage
For sports desks: game coverage on tight post-game deadlines, with heavy evening, weekend, and holiday and travel demands.
First Newsroom Hire
Small / nonprofit / startup
The version no competitor offers: a versatile first reporter who helps build a small, digital, or nonprofit newsroom from the ground up.
Match the Template to the Outlet
Any outlet as a starting point: General Reporter. Community coverage: Local / Community News. Digital-first with video and social: Multimedia Journalist. A niche industry publication: Trade / B2B Staff Writer-Reporter. A sports desk: Sports Reporter. A small, digital, or nonprofit newsroom making an early hire: First Newsroom Hire. Every version defaults to non-exempt with a note to confirm by duties.
6 Free Reporter Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: publication and role summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, hours and equipment, compensation, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, local news, multimedia, trade, sports, and first newsroom hire. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: General Reporter
The universal baseline: research, report, and write news on deadline across print, web, and social. Start here and adapt to your beat.
Reporter Job Description (General)
REPORTER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State] / Remote / Hybrid)
Reports to: __ (Editor / Managing Editor / Publisher)
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (overtime eligible) by default; confirm by duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year]
ABOUT [PUBLICATION NAME]
[One or two sentences about your outlet, your coverage area or beats, and the
team this reporter will join. Note deadline, evening, and weekend expectations.]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Publication Name] is hiring a Reporter to research, report, and write timely,
accurate stories for our audience. You will develop sources, cover your beat,
file on deadline, and produce clear, fair, and well-sourced journalism across
[print, web, and social].
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Research, report, and write news stories on deadline
•Develop and maintain sources and story leads
•Cover assigned beats, events, and breaking news
•Conduct interviews and verify facts before publishing
•Write clear, accurate, and fair copy in our style
•Pitch story ideas and follow news in your beat
•Produce or support photos, video, and social posts
•Follow journalistic ethics and our editorial standards
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[Degree in journalism or related field, or equivalent experience]
•[N] year(s) of reporting or relevant writing experience
•Strong writing, reporting, and interviewing skills
•Ability to work on deadline and juggle multiple stories
•Familiarity with [AP style] and digital publishing tools
•A portfolio of published clips
HOURS, TRAVEL, AND EQUIPMENT
Schedule: deadline-driven; includes [evenings, weekends, breaking news]
Travel: local travel to events and sources; [mileage reimbursed]
Equipment: [laptop, recorder, and camera provided / required]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year] (overtime over 40
hours a week, since this role is non-exempt by default)
To apply, send your resume, cover letter, and clips to __.
[Publication Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Local / Community News Reporter
For community coverage: local government, schools, and events, with the evening-meeting, travel, and mileage realities of beat reporting.
Local / Community News Reporter Job Description
LOCAL / COMMUNITY NEWS REPORTER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Editor / Publisher
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (overtime eligible); confirm by duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Publication Name] is hiring a Local News Reporter to cover our community:
local government, schools, business, public safety, and the events and people
that matter here. You will be out in the community, build local sources, and
file accurate, fair stories on deadline for [print and web].
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Cover local government, schools, and community beats
•Attend council, board, and community meetings (often evenings)
•Develop local sources and follow community issues
•Report breaking local news quickly and accurately
•Write features, news, and event coverage on deadline
•Take photos and post to social as needed
•Verify facts and follow journalistic ethics
•Represent the publication well in the community
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[Journalism degree or equivalent reporting experience]
•Strong local reporting, writing, and interviewing skills
•Comfortable attending evening and weekend meetings and events
•Reliable transportation for local travel
•Familiarity with AP style
•Clips that show community or beat reporting
HOURS, TRAVEL, AND EQUIPMENT
Schedule: includes evening meetings, weekend events, and breaking news
Travel: regular local travel; personal vehicle with [mileage reimbursement]
Equipment: [laptop and camera/phone provided or required]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year] (non-exempt; overtime over 40 hours)
To apply, send your resume, cover letter, and clips to __.
[Publication Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
For sports desks: game coverage on tight post-game deadlines, with heavy evening, weekend, and holiday and travel demands.
Sports Reporter Job Description
SPORTS REPORTER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Sports Editor / Editor
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (overtime eligible); confirm by duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Publication Name] is hiring a Sports Reporter to cover [local / college /
professional] sports. You will report on games, teams, athletes, and storylines,
file on tight post-game deadlines, and produce game coverage, features, and
analysis across [print, web, and social].
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Cover games, teams, and athletes on your beat
•File game stories on tight post-game deadlines
•Write features, previews, and analysis
•Develop sources among coaches, players, and programs
•Attend games and events, including evenings and weekends
•Post live updates and content to social during games
•Take photos or video as needed
•Follow journalistic ethics and editorial standards
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[Journalism degree or equivalent reporting experience]
•Strong sports writing and fast deadline reporting
•Knowledge of the sports and leagues you will cover
•Available for evening, weekend, and holiday games
•Reliable transportation for travel to events
•Clips that show sports or deadline reporting
HOURS, TRAVEL, AND HOW TO APPLY
Schedule: heavy evenings, weekends, and holidays around game schedules
Travel: regular travel to games and events; [mileage reimbursement]
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year] (non-exempt; overtime over 40 hours)
To apply, send your resume, cover letter, and clips to __.
[Publication Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: First Newsroom Hire / Small Outlet Reporter
The version no competitor offers: a versatile first reporter who helps build a small, digital, or nonprofit newsroom from the ground up.
First Newsroom Hire / Small Outlet Reporter Job Description
FIRST NEWSROOM HIRE / SMALL OUTLET REPORTER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ (Remote / [City, State])
Reports to: Founder / Editor / Publisher
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (overtime eligible); confirm by duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year]
ABOUT US
[We are a small / digital / nonprofit news outlet, and this is one of our first
newsroom hires. You will report, write, and help build how we cover our
community, working closely with the founder or editor.]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Publication Name] is hiring a Reporter as one of our first dedicated newsroom
hires. You will own a broad set of coverage, report and write across formats,
and help shape our newsroom as we grow. Ideal for a versatile, self-directed
journalist who wants ownership and impact at a growing outlet.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Report, write, and file stories across our coverage
•Cover multiple beats as a versatile generalist
•Produce written, social, and basic multimedia content
•Develop sources and follow community or topic issues
•Help build coverage habits, beats, and a story pipeline
•Verify facts and uphold journalistic ethics
•Wear many hats in a small, growing newsroom
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
•[Journalism background or strong reporting clips]
•Versatile, self-directed, and comfortable building from scratch
•Strong writing and reporting across formats
•Excited to help grow a small or digital newsroom
•Reliable on deadline without heavy supervision
HOURS, COMPENSATION, AND HOW TO APPLY
Schedule: deadline-driven; some evenings, weekends, and breaking news
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [hour / year] (non-exempt; overtime over 40 hours)
To apply, [send your resume, a short note, and clips to _].
[Publication Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA, Hours, Travel, and Credentials
This is the part the generic templates skip, and for a reporter it is where the real value is: the FLSA classification that catches small outlets, the irregular hours that drive overtime, and the travel, mileage, equipment, and credential expectations that belong in the posting. Get these right and your posting attracts qualified candidates and protects your newsroom.
FLSA: most reporters are non-exempt, and no template vendor tells you this
This is the compliance point that no JD-template competitor addresses, and it is a documented source of overtime litigation against media employers. Reporters are tested under the creative-professional exemption, and Department of Labor guidance is explicit that there is no across-the-board exemption for journalists. A reporter who mainly collects, organizes, and records routine or already-public information, rewrites press releases, or works under substantial editorial control is not an exempt creative professional, and is owed overtime. The DOL's own bottom line is that the majority of journalists who simply collect and organize public information are not likely to be exempt, and that reporters paid by the hour are entitled to overtime. Reporters whose primary duty is on-air performance, investigative interviews, analysis of public events, or editorial and opinion writing may be exempt. Default to non-exempt and confirm by the actual duties, not the title. This is general information, not legal advice.
Reporting hours are irregular, and irregular hours mean overtime
Reporting does not fit a nine-to-five schedule. Deadlines, evening meetings, weekend events, and breaking news mean a reporter's hours swing week to week, and for a non-exempt reporter every hour over 40 in a week is owed at one and a half times the regular rate. This is exactly where small outlets get into trouble: paying a flat salary, never tracking hours, and assuming a salaried reporter is exempt. State the schedule realities plainly in the posting, including evening, weekend, and breaking-news expectations, and track hours so a heavy news week does not turn into a wage-and-hour problem. Being upfront about the schedule also attracts candidates who actually fit the rhythm of the job. This is general information, not legal advice.
Spell out travel, mileage, and equipment in the posting
Reporters travel: to meetings, scenes, games, and sources, often in their own vehicle. The job description should state the travel expectation and how personal-vehicle use is reimbursed, since mileage reimbursement is a real cost and a frequent point of confusion. It should also state who provides the equipment a reporter needs, such as a laptop, recorder, camera, or phone, and whether the role requires the candidate to have their own. Spelling out travel, mileage, and equipment sets accurate expectations, avoids disputes, and signals a professionally run newsroom. For roles with heavy local travel, reliable transportation belongs in the requirements. This is general information, not legal advice.
Name the ethics, credentials, and portfolio expectations
Journalism carries professional expectations that belong in the posting. Name the ethics and accuracy standards you hold reporters to, since credibility is the product, and reference your editorial or ethics code if you have one. State whether press credentials are needed for the beat and who arranges them. Ask for a portfolio of published clips, which is the single best signal of a reporter's ability, and specify the formats you care about, whether written, multimedia, or broadcast. Naming these expectations filters for serious candidates and sets the professional tone of the newsroom from the first contact. This is general information, not legal advice.
Most Reporters Are Non-Exempt
Department of Labor guidance is explicit that there is no across-the-board exemption for journalists. A reporter who mainly collects and organizes routine or public information, or works under substantial editorial control, is not an exempt creative professional and is owed overtime (DOL Fact Sheet 17Q). Primarily on-air, investigative, or editorial reporters may be exempt. Default to non-exempt and confirm by duties.
Reporter hiring is portfolio- and ability-anchored more than degree-gated, which makes a request for published clips the most important line in the posting. Match the requirements to your outlet, beat, and formats.
Requirement
What to look for
Portfolio
Published clips; the single strongest signal of ability
Writing
Clear, accurate, fair writing on deadline in AP style
Reporting
Source development, interviewing, and fact-checking
Digital
Photo, video, social, and SEO where the role needs it
Education
Journalism or communications degree, or equivalent experience
Classification
Non-exempt by default; overtime over 40 hours a week
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Reporter Pay
Reporter pay is low to moderate and varies widely by outlet, market, and experience, which argues for benchmarking to your specific outlet type rather than a single national figure.
Median $60,280 a Year (BLS, May 2024)
News analysts, reporters, and journalists earned a median annual wage of $60,280 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent under $34,590 and the highest 10 percent over $162,430 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The high end is skewed by national and large-market roles, while local and entry-level news reporters typically sit toward the lower end. The field held about 49,300 jobs and is projected to decline about 4 percent through 2034.
Local and entry-level news reporters often earn in the $40,000 to $55,000 range, while national, broadcast, and large-market roles pull the high end up. Because most reporters are non-exempt, budget for overtime on top of base pay, and include a pay range in the posting where required. National compensation surveys can help you set a realistic range for your outlet type and market.
Hiring a Reporter for a Small or Digital Newsroom
As legacy newsrooms have shrunk, reporting jobs have shifted to small local outlets, digital startups, nonprofit newsrooms, and trade publishers, where the founder, editor, or publisher writes the posting and onboards the hire personally. The reality of hiring at that scale is different from a large metro daily, and the posting should reflect it. Here is how to write it for a small-newsroom reality, and the classification trap to avoid.
Templates are written for big newsrooms, but the jobs are at small ones
The published reporter templates read as if every newsroom is a large metro daily with an HR department. The reality is the opposite: newspaper newsroom employment has fallen sharply over the past two decades, and new hiring has shifted to small local outlets, digital startups, nonprofit newsrooms, and trade publishers, many with fewer than twenty people. At those outlets, the founder, editor, or publisher writes the posting and onboards the hire personally, often while also reporting. The templates here are written for that reality, with versions for local, digital, trade, and first-newsroom-hire roles, so you can pick the one that matches your outlet and post it, instead of adapting a big-newsroom description down to your size. The first-newsroom-hire version, which no competitor offers, is built for exactly this moment.
The classification trap: assuming a salaried reporter is exempt from overtime
The most common and costly mistake a small outlet makes is putting a reporter on a flat salary and treating them as exempt. Department of Labor guidance is clear that there is no blanket exemption for journalists, and that a reporter who mainly collects and organizes public information, covers routine events, or works under substantial editorial control is non-exempt and owed overtime. Most reporters at small local outlets fall on the non-exempt side, which means evening meetings, weekend events, and breaking-news weeks create real overtime obligations. There is a documented history of overtime-misclassification litigation against media employers. Default to non-exempt, track hours, pay overtime over 40, and only treat a reporter as exempt when the duties genuinely qualify, such as primarily editorial, on-air, or investigative work. No competitor template warns you about this, which is exactly why ours does. This is general information, not legal advice.
Onboarding a reporter is contracts, credentials, and ethics, not just paperwork
Whichever template you use, the work after hiring is people operations with a newsroom flavor: a signed offer letter with the pay and overtime terms, the new hire paperwork and I-9, an ethics-code and editorial-standards acknowledgment, press-credential arrangements, and equipment assignment. Newsrooms also work heavily with freelancers, so e-signature for staff and freelance contracts is a recurring need. FirstHR fits this people side for a small or digital newsroom: e-signature for offer letters and staff or freelance contracts, training modules for ethics, standards, and tools onboarding, task workflows for the first-week checklist, and document management for signed contracts, credentials, and the I-9. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a content management or editorial system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a newsroom-specific onboarding, starting with the new hire paperwork and, for staff or freelance reporters, an employment contract. Because newsrooms work heavily with both staff and freelancers and hold reporters to ethics and editorial standards, an onboarding that handles contracts, credentials, and standards pays off with every story.
Send the offer
Confirm the role, pay, overtime terms, schedule, and start date in writing. An offer letter template makes this fast for a non-exempt reporter role.
Collect paperwork and contracts
I-9, tax forms, and a signed staff or freelance contract, with e-signature, stored in one place.
Onboard on ethics and tools
Editorial standards and ethics-code acknowledgment, plus training on your CMS, style, and tools before the first byline.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, contracts, ethics acknowledgment, press credentials, and the I-9 organized and easy to find.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step. FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures for staff and freelance contracts, ethics and standards training, and onboarding workflow in one place, so a small or digital newsroom can manage the full process from job description to a fully onboarded reporter from one system. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a content management or editorial system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
Match the template to the outlet: general, local news, multimedia, trade, sports, or first newsroom hire.
The version no competitor offers is the first newsroom hire who helps build a small, digital, or nonprofit newsroom from scratch.
Most reporters are non-exempt and owed overtime; there is no across-the-board exemption for journalists, so default to non-exempt and confirm by duties.
Only primarily editorial, on-air, or investigative reporters may be exempt; routine news-gathering is non-exempt.
Spell out the irregular hours, travel and mileage, equipment, ethics, and clips, which generic templates skip.
Use BLS data as a baseline: news analysts, reporters, and journalists earned a median of $60,280 in May 2024, with local roles toward the lower end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a reporter do?
A reporter researches, reports, and writes timely, accurate stories for a publication's audience. Day to day, that means developing and maintaining sources, covering a beat, attending events and meetings, conducting interviews, verifying facts, and filing clear, fair stories on deadline. Modern reporters often also produce photos, video, and social content and optimize their work for the web. The role shifts by outlet: a local news reporter covers community government and events, a multimedia journalist produces across video and audio, a trade reporter covers a specialized industry, and a sports reporter files on tight post-game deadlines. The shared core is accurate, ethical, well-sourced journalism produced on deadline, often with irregular hours that include evenings, weekends, and breaking news.
Is a reporter exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
Most reporters are non-exempt and owed overtime, and this is the single most overlooked point when hiring one. Reporters are tested under the creative-professional exemption, and Department of Labor guidance is explicit that there is no across-the-board exemption for journalists. A reporter who mainly collects, organizes, and records routine or already-public information, rewrites press releases, or works under substantial editorial control is not an exempt creative professional and is owed overtime; the DOL states that the majority of journalists who simply collect and organize public information are not likely to be exempt, and that reporters paid by the hour are entitled to overtime. Reporters whose primary duty is on-air performance, investigative interviews, analysis of public events, or editorial and opinion writing may be exempt. Classification depends on the actual duties, not the title, so default to non-exempt and confirm by duties. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a reporter and a journalist?
The terms overlap and are often used interchangeably, but there are tendencies. Journalist is the broader umbrella term covering anyone who gathers, produces, and distributes news, including reporters, editors, columnists, and producers. Reporter is more specific, referring to someone whose primary job is to research, report, and write or present news stories, often on a beat or assignment. In a job posting, reporter signals a hands-on news-gathering and writing role, while journalist can be used more broadly. The federal occupation that covers both is news analysts, reporters, and journalists. Choose the title your outlet and audience actually use, and write the description around the real duties. If you are hiring a broader or umbrella role, the journalist templates may fit, while this page focuses on the reporter and news-reporter role.
How much does a reporter make?
Reporter pay is low to moderate and varies by outlet, market, and experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, news analysts, reporters, and journalists earned a median annual wage of $60,280 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent under $34,590 and the highest 10 percent over $162,430. The high end is skewed by national broadcast and large-market roles; local and entry-level news reporters typically earn toward the lower end, often in the $40,000 to $55,000 range. The field is shrinking, with employment projected to decline about 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, and most new hiring concentrated in small local, digital, and nonprofit outlets. For a posting, benchmark to your specific market and outlet type, and include a pay range where required. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a reporter job description include?
A strong reporter job description names the outlet type and beat, since a local, digital, trade, and sports role differ, and includes a publication overview, a role summary, responsibilities grouped into reporting and writing, sourcing and interviews, multimedia, and ethics, plus required qualifications and a request for clips. The additions that generic templates skip and that matter most are the FLSA non-exempt classification with an overtime note, the irregular-hours reality including evenings, weekends, and breaking news, the travel and mileage-reimbursement expectation, equipment provisions, and ethics and press-credential expectations. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear apply instructions, including asking for a portfolio. Matching the template to your outlet, rather than posting a generic description, attracts qualified candidates. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do reporters get overtime for evening and weekend work?
If the reporter is non-exempt, which most are, then yes. A non-exempt reporter is owed overtime at one and a half times their regular rate for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek, regardless of whether those hours fall on evenings, weekends, or holidays. Because reporting involves deadline-driven, irregular schedules, covering night meetings, weekend events, and breaking news, hours commonly exceed 40 in busy weeks, which creates real overtime obligations. The common and costly mistake is paying a flat salary, never tracking hours, and assuming the role is exempt. Track hours for non-exempt reporters, pay overtime accordingly, and only treat a reporter as exempt when the duties genuinely qualify under the creative-professional standard. This is general information, not legal advice.
What skills and qualifications should a reporter have?
Reporters are evaluated more on demonstrated ability than credentials, with a portfolio of published clips as the single strongest signal. Core skills include strong reporting and interviewing, clear and accurate writing on deadline, source development, fact-checking, and a solid grasp of journalistic ethics and style, commonly AP style. Many roles now also require digital skills: producing photo, video, and audio, posting to social, and understanding SEO and analytics. A journalism or communications degree is common but often substitutable with equivalent experience and strong clips. For specialized roles, add the relevant requirement: industry knowledge for trade reporting, sports knowledge for a sports desk, or multimedia production for a digital role. Always ask for a portfolio and specify the formats you care about. This is general information, not legal advice.
When should a small newsroom hire its first reporter?
A small or digital newsroom typically makes its first dedicated reporting hire when the founder or editor can no longer cover the community alone and needs consistent, postable, compliant coverage. For nonprofit and digital startups, this often comes as the outlet grows its audience and funding and wants to expand beyond founder-led reporting. The first newsroom hire is usually a versatile generalist who covers multiple beats, produces across formats, and helps build the newsroom's coverage habits from scratch. When you reach that point, hire for versatility, self-direction, and strong clips over narrow specialization, default the role to non-exempt, and use the first-newsroom-hire template, which is built for exactly this moment. This is general information, not legal advice.
