The Requirements

• Solid experience in digital journalism, including a track record of success in reporting on the non-profit sector.
• Strong familiarity with the non-profit community in Central New York, particularly charitable groups that provide community services and accept individuals' donations.
• Exceptional skills in social media, including leveraging social media channels to source and share topical content and insights in real time.
• Proven experience building, maintaining and engaging an active audience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with users and readers.
• The ability to mine public documents and social media and engage with people closest to the issues to uncover the best and most current information.
• Demonstrated reporting, writing and organizational skills.
• Solid understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure.
• Experience with search engine optimization (SEO) practices.
• A demonstrated ability to capitalize on high-value topics by engaging audiences frequently and with urgency.
• An understanding of the methods and tools used to deliver content across a variety of platforms such as Moveable Type CMS, SCC Budgeting and Archiving System, smartphones and more.
• An understanding of the imperatives of multiple platforms -- print, mobile, Internet, etc.
• The ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver content that differentiates the organization from its competitors.
• The ability to work independently and remotely under deadline pressure and prioritize tasks appropriately.
• A bachelor's degree, preferably in Journalism, Communications or other relevant field. We also will consider non-degreed candidates with significant relevant experience.

The Role

• Leveraging your knowledge of this area to find and develop interesting content, such as stories, tips, lists, data, notes, Q&As, videos and more.
• Acting as a public advocate to identify the most interesting community work, the key players, problems in the non-profit world (such as mismanagement) and social issues that should be addressed by local groups.
• Using our website, direct communication and social media to build an audience on syracuse.com around the topic.
• Engaging with readers to pull content in -- ask readers to provide the stories of unsung heroes, of community members and groups needing assistance, etc.
• Providing guidance for our audience by finding rewarding and worthwhile opportunities for readers who want to devote their money or time to a cause.

• Gather information and write journalistically sound news elements for use in all existing and future media platforms. Your stories should be balanced and factual, timely and topical, and well-sourced and contextually correct.
• Learn and employ all techniques for effective digital reporting across all platforms.
• Post frequently and incrementally throughout the day.
• Engage in story aggregation and topical link-posting.
• Monitor and engage in reader comment streams; elevate comments into new posts when appropriate.
• Interact on social-media platforms by using story shares and objective commentary to promote the news organization's content initiatives.
• Effectively employ various means of monitoring audience interest and competitors' posting on your topic, including setting up Google alerts, Twitter and RSS feeds.
• Maintain operational communication with the editor and production center, when appropriate.
• Learn and understand audience traffic tracking systems and analytical reports.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other reporters, creating mutually beneficial partnerships, and working as a team when needed.

Keys to Success