Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Civic News Company, parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally; Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; and Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting, is seeking a Senior New York Reporter, Healthbeat. This role will cover New York City’s public health needs through clear, evidence-based reporting that elevates trusted local experts, explains how health systems work, and holds officials accountable.

The ideal candidate brings curiosity, knowledge of how public health operates, and is skilled at making complex issues relatable. We welcome reporters with fresh ideas, creative approaches, and unique visions for making this role as impactful as possible.

This position reports to the Editor-in-Chief, Healthbeat.

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Pitch and develop compelling story ideas with editors.

• Report and write across formats, from breaking news to in-depth enterprise stories.

• Publish at least two stories per week.

• Represent Healthbeat at community events and media appearances.

• Use a wide range of reporting methods, including interviews, field reporting, public records requests, document analysis, archival research, and data analysis.

• Uphold the highest standards of accuracy, balance, and clarity.

• Revise stories in collaboration with editors and respond constructively to feedback.

• Contribute to social media content, including vertical videos, to amplify stories.

• Partner with colleagues on photo assignments, data visualization, article production, and newsletters.

• Partner with colleagues on photo assignments, data visualization, article production, and newsletters.

• Support audience engagement initiatives and community outreach led by the audience team.

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):

• 7–10 years of journalism experience, ideally focused on health, science, or government.

• Knowledge of New York City’s public health infrastructure, political culture, and key community groups.

• Strong sourcing skills, with experience cultivating trusted contacts and generating story ideas.

• Comfort working with data, research, and reports, including tracking government spending.

• Experience using public records requests, with familiarity in New York’s open records law.

• Ability to write with clarity and authority on complex scientific and policy issues.

• Proven skill in producing well-structured stories on both quick deadlines and longer projects.

• Experience telling stories through multiple formats beyond traditional narratives.

• Proficiency with digital newsroom tools (Slack, Google Docs/Drive, publishing platforms).

• Collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a spirit of generosity.

• Ability to work independently in a remote environment, using Slack, Zoom, and other tools.

• Interest in reader engagement and creative approaches to reaching diverse audiences.

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• Fluency in Spanish for reporting.

• Demonstrated record of impactful beat reporting.

• Deep knowledge of New York City public health, including epidemiology, emergency readiness, and policy impacts on frontline workers.

• Experience covering issues such as food, water, and air safety, climate impacts, and other global public health concerns.

• Background in reporting on science, global health, and health-related R&D and technology.

• Video and audio production skills.

This full-time role is based in the Metro New York City area, with a focus on remote collaboration and communication with the rest of the Healthbeat team. Civic News Company already has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

The salary range is $80,000-$95,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance

• 20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess

• 401(k) matching program

• Paid parental leave

Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.

About Civic News Company

At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.

Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs