Reporter / Assistant Editor
Top Job
Located in Olympia, WA
Salary: $25-33/hr
Now Hiring: Reporter / Assistant Editor
Future Editor Track
Location: Thurston County, WA | Industry: Nonprofit Local News / Journalism
Employment Type: Full-Time | Long-Term Career Opportunity
Work Arrangement: Local / Hybrid | Regular In-Person Reporting Required
Pay: $25.00–$33.00/hr DOE | Future Editor Pay: $35.50–$38.50/hr DOE
Benefits: Monthly Health Insurance Stipend for Eligible Employees
About the Job
Express Employment Professionals is partnering with The JOLT News Organization, publisher of The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater, to find an experienced Reporter / Assistant Editor who is interested in becoming part of the Thurston County community and growing into a newsroom leadership role.
The JOLT is an award-winning nonprofit local-news organization serving Thurston County with civic and general news published every weekday. The organization is committed to accurate, useful reporting that helps residents understand and participate in their community.
This position offers a unique career path. The successful candidate will begin as a Reporter / Assistant Editor, with the goal of transitioning into The JOLT's lead Editor role within approximately six to nine months, based on organizational needs, the current editor's retirement timeline, and demonstrated readiness.
This is not a remote reporting position. The role is centered around local, in-person journalism, including attending meetings and community events, conducting interviews, developing sources, and becoming connected to the community.
Key Responsibilities:
• Report daily and breaking news, community stories, enterprise pieces, and occasional in-depth or investigative stories
• Attend local meetings and community events and conduct in-person and phone interviews
• Develop original story ideas that go beyond press releases and official announcements
• Build relationships and reliable sources throughout Thurston County
• Edit and fact-check stories for accuracy, fairness, clarity, completeness, and AP style
• Help plan and assign coverage and provide clear reporting direction
• Review headlines, captions, summaries, and social media copy
• Collaborate with The JOLT's local team and contract reporters
• Help evaluate and develop future beats, reporting methods, media and distribution channels, and editorial practices
• Participate in newsroom coordination while continuing to actively report and write
Future Editor Opportunity:
The successful candidate is expected to transition into the lead Editor role within approximately six to nine months. As Editor, responsibilities will expand to include:
• Setting editorial priorities and assigning coverage
• Supervising, mentoring, and coaching reporters
• Overseeing newsroom workflow and publication schedules
• Maintaining editorial quality and consistency
• Working closely with the Publisher/Executive Director to support The JOLT's mission and continued growth
• Remaining actively involved in reporting and writing important local stories
What You Bring:
• At least 3 years of professional reporting experience
• At least 1 year of editing responsibilities, which may include editing staff or freelance work, assigning stories, reviewing drafts, or overseeing publication
• Strong reporting, interviewing, writing, editing, and fact-checking skills
• Strong command of grammar, spelling, and AP style
• Sound news judgment and understanding of journalistic ethics, fairness, attribution, and source protection
• Ability and willingness to live in Thurston County and regularly report in person
• Experience covering local government, education, courts, housing, business, environmental issues, nonprofits, or public agencies is a plus
• Enterprise, investigative, data, or public-records reporting experience is a plus
• Newsroom leadership, mentoring, or story assignment experience is preferred
• Experience with photography, video, audio, mapping, social media, data visualization, or online publishing is a plus
• Experience collaborating with remote employees, contractors, or contributors is helpful
• Familiarity with Thurston County or the broader South Puget Sound region is a plus
Work Arrangement & Compensation:
This position requires the employee to live in Thurston County and be regularly available for in-person reporting, interviews, community events, and newsroom collaboration.
The position may include a combination of working from home, reporting throughout the community, and meeting with the team in person or virtually.
During the Reporter / Assistant Editor transition period, the position pays $25.00–$33.00/hr DOE and is overtime eligible.
Upon promotion to Editor, the pay range increases to $35.50–$38.50/hr DOE.
Ready to Apply?
Please email your resume and letter of interest explaining your interest in the position and how your experience aligns with the role to:
Ashley.Stone2@expresspros.com
Express Office: Olympia
1120 Harrison Avenue Northwest
Olympia, WA 98502
Apply Now
