Billings Local Reporter

Description:

Montana Free Press (MTFP), the state’s fastest-growing nonprofit news organization, is hiring a Billings-based reporter to anchor a new local newsletter and lead coverage of Yellowstone County. This is not a traditional beat reporting role. You will own and shape a Billings newsletter, a smart, distinctive, must-read guide to what matters in Montana’s largest city. You will be the voice of Billings for thousands of readers, building a weekly relationship that helps people understand what’s happening, who holds power, how decisions get made, and other local forces affecting their lives. We’re looking for a journalist who can break news and produce memorable reporting.

This is a full-time position for a driven, community-oriented journalist eager to report stories that explain how policy and politics shape the lives of local residents. We’re looking for a journalist who is deeply curious about how people in Billings live — and who sees accountability reporting as a public service. You’ll cover local government, policy decisions, and community debates in Yellowstone County with a beat that includes local elections, education, criminal justice, business and beyond. You’ll combine original reporting, sharp curation, clear explanation, and compelling visuals to create a newsletter readers rely on week after week. In addition to writing for the newsletter, you will write articles for the Montana Free Press site, and report video and visual posts for our social media channels and contribute to live community events.

What you’ll do

• Own and write a Billings-based newsletter that is engaging, useful, and habit-forming
• Report breaking, daily, and enterprise stories in Yellowstone County
• Cover local government, elections, education, criminal justice, business, and community debates
• Cover elections and monitor the work of the region’s state legislative delegation
• Go beyond meeting coverage to show how policy decisions shape people’s lives
• Break news—and clearly explain why it matters
• Curate the most important news from Billings and Montana, adding context and insight
• Build sources across the community—from City Hall to neighborhoods to business and culture
• Produce visual journalism: take photos and shoot simple video for social media and newsletters
• Contribute to MTFP’s website, social platforms, newsletters, and collaborative editorial projects
• Participate in audience engagement efforts and community events

What we’re looking for

• You are a distinctive writer, who can make readers feel like they’re getting the inside story of their city.
• Strong reporting instincts and local news judgment
• The ability to write with voice, clarity, and authority
• Speed and initiative—without sacrificing accuracy
• Curiosity about how people live, work, and make decisions in Billings
• Ability to get up to speed quickly on a place or beat
• A commitment to accountability and public service journalism
• Comfort working independently while collaborating with a statewide newsroom
• Basic visual and social media skills (or willingness to learn): photography and simple video for social
• A journalist who understands that reaching readers and viewers on social media is essential to covering a community.

What success looks like

• Your newsletter becomes a must-read habit for people in Billings
• Readers feel like they can’t keep up with the city without you
• You break stories that others follow
• You build trust with a wide range of sources and readers
• You consistently connect daily news to the bigger forces shaping Montana

Minimum Desired Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

• Strong reporting, writing and research skills
• Organized and goal-oriented with the ability to meet regular deadlines
• At least some professional journalism experience (internships or student work welcome)
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and collaborate statewide
• Commitment to public service journalism

Final salary offers will carefully consider multiple factors, including prior experience, expertise and location, and may vary from the amount above. MTFP offers numerous benefits, including generous vacation (unlimited leave after 60 days of employment), a retirement fund contribution, paid family and caregiver leave, subsidized medical, dental, and vision premiums and more.

Applications will be accepted until May 29, 2026.

Commitment to Diversity: MTFP is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Even if you don’t meet every qualification but are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply.

Statement of Ethics: For more information about Montana Free Press and our mission, visit our website at montanafreepress.org. To read our ethics policy, visit: https://montanafreepress.org/best-practices/#code-of-ethics