McClatchy

Compensation

Full Description

This Senior Writer, Crime will be a part of the UsWeekly publication and will plan coverage around major events through a pop culture lens. Pitch and write multiple daily crime news stories (6-8 a day, plus updates), ensuring speed, accuracy, and originality. This role consistently pitches and writes multiple daily crime news stories, maintaining speed, accuracy, and originality while adhering to Us Weekly's distinctive tone. This position will aggregate and reframe news, interviews, and social media into engaging digital and photo-driven stories, galleries, and exclusive reports. By tracking real-time performance data, the Writer crafts compelling follow-ups to major news and uses analytics to inform pitches, story angles, and headlines. Responsibilities: • Aggregate and reframe crime news, interviews, and social media content into compelling digital stories within the Us Weekly tone. • Produce photo-driven stories, galleries and exclusive reports. • Craft creative, enterprising follow-ups to major breaking news and trending topics. • Track story performance and use real-time data to guide pitch development, story angles, and headlines. • Outreach to reps, court clerks or lawyers when applicable • Download and size your own photos when applicable • Conduct expert interviews and develop expert-level topical authority. • Ensure all content aligns with Us Weekly's editorial voice, tone, and standards. • Cultivate a beat and topical authority within the sports celebrity space. • Build and maintain relationships with publicists and reps to secure access for exclusive interviews and features. Qualifications: • 2-4 years of daily digital writing/reporting experience, ideally in entertainment, celebrity, or crime media. • Deep knowledge of and passion for crime and pop culture, with an instinct for what stories will resonate beyond the field or courtroom. • Proven ability to write clean, engaging, fast-turnaround copy. • Strong news judgment and ability to spot viral angles and timely stories. • Comfort working in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment. • Familiarity with SEO, social media platforms, CMS tools, and performance tracking tools (like Google Analytics, Chartbeat). • A roster of editorial contacts and sourcing skills is a plus. The anticipated annual salary for this position is between $70k and $80k. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and relevant education. Application Process: To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and interest in this role. About McClatchy: Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 56 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger. As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth-a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It's an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We're growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on well-being and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com. #LI-TH1 #LI-Remote Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.