General Assignment Reporter, The Oklahoma Eagle

Job Description

General Assignment Reporter, The Oklahoma Eagle

Reports to: Managing Editor

Position Status: Regular, Full Time, Exempt

Summary:

The Oklahoma Eagle is seeking a general assignment reporter to cover news and events in and around Tulsa. The beat will focus on, but is not limited to, issues that affect Black and underserved Tulsans. This role required strong news judgement, an ability to turn daily stories, write longer-form stories and adaptability to the newsroom’s needs as we evolve.  

The general assignment reporter is expected to produce three to five stories per week and two to three features a month. Coverage should be grounded in the Eagle’s mission to be a helpful, reliable source for Tulsans.  The reporter should be comfortable covering health care, faith and transportation issues as they arise. They may also occasionally undertake investigative stories independently or in collaboration with other reporters or editors at The Oklahoma Eagle or Tulsa Flyer. 

We’re looking for someone who can take their reporting beyond press releases and conferences when necessary and can dive in and learn the communities they are covering. As a community driven newsroom, you’ll also be asked to participate in one to two quarterly community facing events. 

If you’re naturally curious, enjoy storytelling and have strong writing and reporting skills this may be the job for you!

About the organization:

The Oklahoma Eagle, one of the oldest Black-owned newspapers in the U.S., primarily serves readers in Tulsa’s Black community. However, we believe news for some is news for all and continue to expand our reader base while remembering our roots. 

The Oklahoma Eagle is a newsroom for talented journalists to engage in the mission-driven work that impacts the lives of everyday Tulsans.

Tulsa Local News Initiative, Inc is home to both The Oklahoma Eagle and Tulsa Flyer. TLNI, Inc is a startup nonprofit organization that has raised $14 million so far in service of a vision to give everyone in Tulsa the local news they need to live more informed and more connected lives. The combined newsroom produces high-quality journalism while engaging with residents to produce and distribute reporting, employing an innovative model for local journalism that is directly responsive to local information needs. In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the Tulsa newsroom has best-in-class community engagement expertise, multimedia production, dedicated capacity for service journalism and research, and a program that trains citizens as government watchdogs called the Tulsa Documenters. 

At The Eagle and Flyer, we value learning, curiosity and diverse perspectives. We are dedicated to equitable hiring and follow best practices to create an inclusive hiring process.

Essential Functions:

• Produce 3-5 daily news stories a week 
• Develop and execute 2-3 longer-term feature, enterprise or investigative stories a month
• Cultivate a diverse network of sources across Tulsa communities
• Engage directly with community members to identify and report on issues that matter most to them
• Collaborate with the community engagement team to incorporate resident input into reporting
• Utilize multimedia storytelling techniques, including photography, video, and data visualization
• Participate in 1-2 community events or forums per quarter as a representative of the newsroom
• Contribute to the newsroom's newsletter products, social media presence, and engagement efforts
• Work closely with editors to refine story ideas and improve reporting techniques
• Adhere to deadlines for both daily stories and long-term projects
• Stay informed about local issues, events, and power structures in Tulsa

Consider applying if you have some of these skill sets:

• Strong news judgment and the ability to work effectively in a day-turn environment
• A self-starter who can juggle multiple assignments and is open to collaboration
• Journalism experience (1-3 years), with a track record of both daily reporting and in-depth projects
• Naturally curious about what's happening in the world around you, with a healthy level of flexibility to adjust to the changing needs of the newsroom
• Experience with community-centered journalism and engagement practices
• Ability to manage multiple stories and projects simultaneously
• Proficiency in multimedia storytelling techniques
• Understanding of journalistic ethics and experience using public records and data in reporting
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a startup environment
• Comfort with digital tools for newsgathering, production, and audience engagement
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends as news demand
• Familiarity with Tulsa or a shown desire to learn about the city, its history and its defining narratives

Compensation:

Salary range for this role is $50,000-$60,000 commensurate with experience. In the spirit of transparency, we present our best offer upfront to every selected candidate — no back-and-forth negotiation required.

Benefits: 

Full health benefits, including employee’s medical, dental and vision premiums covered 100% and dependents covered at 50%; paid leave including paid holidays, PTO and

personal time, and 401K with a 4% match

Training: $2,000 annual reimbursement toward outside training and professional development opportunities

We’re committed to building an inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. Tulsa Local News Initiative, The Oklahoma Eagle and Tulsa Flyer are dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. We encourage people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations,and marital statuses to apply.

Employment Contingency: All roles require standard reference checks and identity verification. Based on the role, additional pre-employment screening may be required, which may include checks such as a credit screening, a public social media review, or an editorial review of past work.

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