Municipal Affairs & Planning Journalist
NRU Publishing Inc., a privately owned Toronto-based publishing company established in 1997, is seeking to hire a Municipal Affairs & Planning Journalist. The Municipal Affairs & Planning Journalist is responsible for identifying, researching and writing stories for NRU’s two publications, Novae Res Urbis – Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (NRU GTHA) and Novae Res Urbis – City of Toronto (NRU Toronto). We publish NRU GTHA and NRU Toronto once each week, 50 weeks per year, producing a total of 100 issues per year. Currently, each publication is distributed to subscribers weekly by email, however we are transitioning to a login system beginning in the fall. To learn more about NRU, please visit https://www.nrupublishing.com/about-nru/. To view sample editions of NRU’s two publications, please visit GTHA Edition: https://www.nrupublishing.com/nru-greater-toronto/ Toronto Edition: https://www.nrupublishing.com/nru-toronto/ POSITION OVERVIEW This is currently a remote work position, however, given the local focus of our reporting, the preference is for the incumbent to be living in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area or the city of Toronto. The NRU team has been working 100% remotely since the beginning of COVID-19, leveraging digital tools and systems to meet and collaborate over video. We may consider re-establishing a site office in the future. The NRU team works closely and cooperatively on each project. The Municipal Affairs & Planning Journalist position requires a basic knowledge of and passion for thinking about city issues – with a strong knowledge of urban planning and related matters. These qualities will inform your ability to research and write accurate, timely, and concise articles on local municipal affairs and planning news, and to undertake and deliver these stories within established weekly timelines in consultation with the Editor. The Municipal Affairs & Planning Journalist will be responsible for identifying, researching, analyzing, and interviewing expert informants for the two publications and writing municipal-related news articles based on that work. Your work will involve developing stories and covering news items in consultation with the Editor every week. Background experience in urban planning or related fields would be an asset. Ability to organize and write well is an absolute necessity. The position reports to the Publisher or the Editor, depending on the nature of the assignment. RESPONSIBILITIES Your areas of responsibility for newsgathering for our two publications will include: · Proposing, every week, story suggestions and ideas in collaboration with the Editor to establish the nature of reporting assignments each week. · Organizing and devoting a portion of your week to researching, interviewing informants, and writing articles for the publications, on copy deadlines established by the Editor. · Writing a minimum of two feature articles and two inside articles for NRU Toronto and NRU GTHA (700 to 950-word articles) each week, for a total of four articles per week that will meet two weekly deadlines for publication. · Using multiple sources, documents, images, data reporting, and other journalistic tools to develop, report, and write feature and special articles, and to undertake investigative projects. · Positively representing the Company in all interactions and interviewing relating to the position. · Identifying images to accompany articles, preparing cut lines, identifying image sources, and describing what an image shows and its relationship to a story. · Compiling documentation to facilitate fact-checking of all articles authored. · Preparing special articles from time to time on election coverage, writing in-depth features, year-in-review summaries, and other articles, as assigned. · Other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS · Minimum of two years of writing and reporting experience. · A degree in Journalism or Urban Planning, or equivalent experience or background is required. · Strong research and interviewing skills, attention to detail, ability to search public records, and use data-based reporting methodologies. · Willingness to learn and comply with the style protocols of the NRU Style Guide. · Ability to organize information, communicate with the editor, and meet strict deadlines. · Passion and interest in city-building initiatives in Toronto and municipalities in the GTHA. · Excitement about the ongoing development of cities and curiosity around the constraints that cities face in building a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for their residents and visitors. KEY ATTRIBUTES · Good news judgment and ability to think creatively about the urban planning and municipal affairs news agenda in Toronto and the GTHA. · Ability to translate often complex topics into accurate, clear, and concise language that our professionally-trained subscribers can understand. · Excellent writing skills, strong interviewing and communication skills, strong collaborative and team-building skills. · Strong personal drive with the ability to work both independently and within a team. · Strong curiosity around the problem-solving abilities of the many professionals who work collaboratively to shape cities for the future, including public sector and private sector urban planners, architects, landscape architects, developers, public servants from federal, provincial and municipal agencies, municipal lawyers, municipal engineers, transportation engineers, environmental specialists, and members of the public who represent various community organizations and interest groups. · Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to juggle deadlines and priorities. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, resume and writing samples to [email protected] stating the position title in the subject line. Example: Excellent verbal and written communication skills Apply tot his job Apply To this Job