📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Business and Growth Beat Reporter
🔹 Company: WHRO
🔹 Location: Norfolk, VA
🔹 Job Type: Full Time
🔹 Category: Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
🔹 Date Posted: May 6, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Covering the regional economy and its impact on people's lives
- Filing daily and long-form stories for multiple platforms
- Engaging with the community to build trust and source stories
- Collaborating with editors, hosts, and colleagues to determine editorial priorities
- Humanizing reporting by seeking out diverse local people to center business and growth stories
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of local economics and the ability to translate complex economic concepts into engaging, human-centered stories.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Cover how the region’s economy shapes the way people live, work, move, and grow
✅ File regular daily and long-form news which includes digital and broadcast components
✅ Engage with the Hampton Roads community to build sources and trust within your assigned beat to ensure a full accounting of the stories
✅ Maintain detailed knowledge of assigned beat at a local, state, and national level to find enterprise story topics and break local news within the beat
✅ Research large quantities of information on one topic and distill it into meaningful, understandable takeaways
✅ Work closely with an editor, hosts, and other colleagues to determine editorial priorities, share ideas, and provide accurate, timely engaging health news to WHRO’s audience
✅ Contextualize and humanize reporting by seeking out a diverse range of local people to center business and growth stories
✅ Participate in station events as appropriate
✅ Ensure all reporting meets WHRO’s expectations of accuracy, independence, and fairness
✅ Have an interest in and talent for engaging with diverse communities
✅ Lead occasional training and/or listening sessions for the newsroom
✅ Available to work varied shifts as required by the news cycle
✅ Pitch big projects, series, and investigations
✅ Other duties as assigned
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong research, writing, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced news environment.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree or 4 years equivalent experience
Experience: Minimum 4 years of demonstrated experience in professional journalism
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated written and/or verbal communication skills
- Ability to research and distill complex information into meaningful takeaways
- Strong storytelling skills
- Community engagement skills
- Collaborative teamwork skills
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in newsroom, preferably local or regional
- Experience in audio field reporting and production
- Visual journalism including still photography and videography
- Knowledge of Adobe Audition audio editing software
- Fluency in more than one language
- Data visualization skills
- Knowledge of the Hampton Roads, VA region
ASSUMPTION: Preferred skills are not required for the role but would be beneficial for success in this position.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Undisclosed (Industry standard for similar roles in the region: $45,000 - $70,000 per year)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plan with employer contribution
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee assistance program
- Professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with varied shifts as required by the news cycle
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in the region. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
Company Size: 51-200 employees (Mid-size)
Founded: 1961 (71 years ago)
Company Description:
- WHRO Public Media is the only public broadcasting station in the United States owned by a collaboration of 21 local public school districts.
- Through four TV stations, six radio channels, a website, and educational content delivered online, WHRO Public Media enriches the lives of the people of Eastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina every day.
Company Specialties:
- Radio
- Television
- Online Media
- Education
- Digital media
- Public Media
Company Website: http://www.whro.org
ASSUMPTION: WHRO Public Media is a well-established organization with a strong commitment to public service and community engagement.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years of experience)
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the News Director and works collaboratively with editors, hosts, and other reporters.
Work Arrangement: On-site with varied shifts as required by the news cycle
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to senior reporter or editor roles
- Opportunities to work on enterprise projects and investigations
- Chance to gain experience in multiple platforms (radio, TV, digital, and educational content)
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site (WHRO - Norfolk, VA)
Office Location(s): 5200 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23508, US
Geographic Context:
- Norfolk, VA is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, which has a population of approximately 1.7 million people.
- The region is known for its rich history, cultural attractions, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
- The cost of living in Norfolk is slightly higher than the national average.
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with varied shifts as required by the news cycle
ASSUMPTION: The work environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screening
- In-person or virtual interview with News Director and other newsroom staff
- Final interview with WHRO's President and CEO
- Background check and reference check
Key Assessment Areas:
- Journalistic skills and experience
- Understanding of local economics and community engagement
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently
- Adaptability to varied shifts and news cycle demands
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to cover business and economic topics
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview to show your interest in the role and organization
ATS Keywords: Business reporter, economic beat, journalism, news reporting, community engagement, collaboration, teamwork, varied shifts, news cycle, local economics, enterprise reporting
ASSUMPTION: The application process may vary based on the organization's current hiring practices and the specific needs of the role.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Audition
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Social media platforms
- Audio and video recording equipment
- Data visualization tools
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role may vary based on the organization's specific needs and the candidate's areas of expertise.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Excellence in journalism
- Community engagement
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Innovation and adaptability
- Integrity and ethical standards
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic news environment
- Strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork
- Flexibility to work varied shifts as required by the news cycle
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with WHRO's core values?
- How do you handle working in a fast-paced, collaborative news environment?
- How do you approach engaging with diverse communities to build trust and source stories?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong fit with WHRO's core values and work style.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Working varied shifts as required by the news cycle may impact work-life balance
- Covering sensitive or controversial topics may require strong ethical judgment and resilience
- The fast-paced news environment may present challenges for candidates who prefer a more structured or predictable work setting
- The cost of living in Norfolk may be higher than in other regions, which could impact the affordability of housing and other expenses
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should carefully consider these potential challenges and assess their ability to thrive in this work environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to other business and economic reporter positions but may have a stronger focus on human-centered storytelling and community engagement
- WHRO's mid-size organization structure may offer more opportunities for collaboration and mentorship than larger enterprise organizations
- Career paths for this role may vary depending on the organization's specific needs and the candidate's areas of expertise
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should research similar roles and organizations to gain a better understanding of the unique aspects of this position.
📝 Sample Projects
- Covering a major economic development project and its impact on local communities
- Investigating housing affordability issues and their connection to the regional economy
- Exploring the ripple effects of a significant business development on transportation systems and neighborhood growth
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to illustrate the types of stories and projects that may be assigned to the Business and Growth Beat Reporter, but the specific projects may vary based on the organization's needs and the candidate's areas of expertise.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the organization's overall news strategy?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the local economy, and how can this role address them?
- How does WHRO support the professional development of its journalists?
- What is the team structure and dynamic within the newsroom?
- How does WHRO engage with the community to build trust and source stories?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions are intended to help candidates better understand the role, the organization, and the newsroom dynamics. Candidates should feel free to ask additional questions based on their specific interests and concerns.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to cover business and economic topics
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview to show your interest in the role and organization
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
