Company Profile

Company Description:

Ashland Source is an online-only news outlet that is looking for an entrepreneurial reporter with photography skills who isn't afraid to break from the mold of a traditional newsroom. Our reporter will be required to live in Ashland, Ohio to best become part of the community, respond to news as quickly as possible, and engage best with our readers.

We expect this reporter to pick their spots when it comes to working with a Solutions Journalism mindset, as this is a key part of what we do. We also utilize Hearken, a reader-involvement tool that solicits questions from readers that we expect to be another consistent component of the position.

This is a tremendous opportunity to shape a site that is just a year old, and starting to grow. Ashland Source is part of a small chain of online sites that includes Ashland Source, Richland Source, and Knox Pages located in north central Ohio. Richland Source is six years old and already earned statewide, regional and national accolades. Richland Source has expanded three times (Ashland Source is the latest expansion) and last year was one of 17 sites worldwide chosen for the Facebook Accelerator program. Our newsroom also earned the Champion of Curiosity national award from Hearken as well as the No.1 Solutions Journalism story in the nation for its 2016 project on infant mortality.

"Their commitment to creating a better news product is unwavering, and it's deeply tied to creating journalism that truly serves and builds their community," said Samantha McCann, VP Journalist Practice Change. "Every publication could learn a thing or two from Richland Source."

Our team at all three sites works together to frequently share content, ideas and resources. Our sites will combine for approximately 25 million page views this year and our membership program has grown by a factor of 4 in the past 10 months.

The successful candidate is a college graduate who features strong writing, reporting and interviewing skills, at least basic knowledge of photography and video production. We're looking for a well-rounded individual who can cover a city council or school board meeting, and take a camera to a Friday night high school football game. As this is a one-person shop with intern and stringer assistance, we expect this individual to be the face of Ashland Source, which also includes duties involving weekly newsletter writing, as well as growing and engaging with our Source Members program.

Deadline to apply is Sept. 10. Our target to start is the first week of October. Interested candidates should email clips to managing editor Larry Phillips at Larry@RichlandSource.com