Reporter - Breaking News

The Quad-City Times, a division of Lee Enterprises, is seeking a fast, fearless and versatile morning reporter to lead public safety and breaking news coverage across the Quad-Cities region.

This journalist will be at the forefront of our daily report — starting early to identify, confirm and publish breaking news as it develops, ensuring readers in Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline and surrounding communities begin their day with timely, accurate and compelling information.

The ideal candidate thrives under pressure, responds quickly to developing news and can balance speed with accuracy. From overnight crime and early morning crashes to developing emergencies, this reporter will take the lead on the stories that matter most to the Quad-Cities at the start of the news cycle.

Responsibilities include:

• Covering early morning breaking news quickly and accurately for online publication, with timely updates as situations develop.
• Monitoring police, fire and emergency radio traffic, alerts and other sources to identify news in real time.
• Writing clearly and fairly on public safety issues, including police, fire, courts and emergency response across Iowa and Illinois jurisdictions.
• Using digital tools to publish and update stories in real time.
• Posting updates and engaging readers on social media.
• Collaborating with editors, photographers and other reporters while working independently in the field.

Qualifications:

• Experience covering breaking news or public safety preferred.
• Strong news judgment and ability to verify information under deadline pressure.
• Ability to work early morning shifts and respond quickly to overnight developments.
• Solid writing, reporting and communication skills.
• Ability to shoot photos or video for digital publication preferred.
• Familiarity with digital analytics tools and content management systems a plus.

This is a fast-paced, high-impact position that offers the opportunity to set the tone for the day’s news coverage. If you’re a journalist who runs toward the action and is driven to report the news quickly, accurately and with purpose, we want to hear from you.

Why Join Us?
Lee Enterprises offers competitive wages in a dynamic, interesting work environment with career growth opportunities. We offer an extensive benefit program that can be personalized to your needs. Our benefit program includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, company provided life insurance and supplemental life insurance. In addition, we offer a 401K retirement plan with company match. We also offer generous paid time off to allow flexibility to balance personal life and work. This includes paid parental leave for new parents.
Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of local news and information and a major subscription and advertising platform, with daily and weekly newspapers and rapidly expanding digital products serving 114 markets across 25 states. Our core commitment is to provide valuable, intensely local news and information to the communities we serve.
Lee Enterprises is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We respect and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
For more information about Lee, check us out at www.lee.net.