Advance Local - Content Fellow

Diversity & Inclusion are at the core of our mission to strengthen and empower the communities we serve.

This position pays between $41,500 to $43,000 annually.

This is a hybrid work opportunity based within the Central PA region.

As part of our ongoing commitment to building talented newsrooms that understand the communities we serve, Advance Local Media is offering an exciting and unique opportunity to pursue a paid online master’s degree with one of the top schools for a Master's of Journalism - the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communications.

Through this fellowship program, you will receive real-life experience working with the PA Media Group and PennLive while earning your master’s degree. The program features a flexible work start date to coincide with Syracuse University’s online academic term, beginning in January 2025. 

PA Media Group is the most trusted source for news and information throughout Pennsylvania. A digitally focused company, PA Media Group provides content when and where readers want it through PennLive and a range of digital products. PA Media Group is also an advertisers' strongest media partner, with an innovative suite of products to help them connect with their best customers.

As an Advance Local Content Fellow with PA Media Group, you will be part of a dynamic and inclusive newsroom team focused on local journalism for one of the country’s largest privately owned media companies. PennLive has more than one million followers across our social media fleet already with room to grow that even more.

You’ll be supported by our leadership team, your colleagues, and our commitment to provide resources for your successful journalism career. 

In your role during the academic program, you’ll:

• Work both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
• Content creation will include designing eye-catching social media cards and graphics, along with video clips tailored for TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Help us tell stories through text and video that go beyond the who and what, to give the how and why that help us bring change to our communities
• Bring a diverse mindset, through your voracious consumption of information about Pennsylvania topics
• Pitch ideas about news, trends and conversations about what’s happening in the community
• Gather information and write journalistically sound items that are: balanced and factual; timely and topical; and, well-sourced and contextually correct

For this position we’re looking for candidates with:

• Degree in journalism, communications or other field, with demonstrated communication, writing and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and remotely, under deadline pressure while prioritizing tasks
• Experience with search engine optimization practices and social media to source and promote content
• Must be familiar with all the latest in social media trends, from Facebook and Instagram to TikTok, Reddit, YouTube and other relevant platforms.
• Proficiency in graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva), along with video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro) is a plus.
• Understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics, and story structure
• Understanding of the methods and tools used to deliver content across a variety of platforms
• Relevant internships
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A successful candidate will be able to cover assignments in-person. Coverage includes the creation of General Assignment videos and live interviews for streaming on social media.

This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.

When applying for this role, please include work samples showcasing your skills and a cover letter including a description of how you overcame a hurdle or burden, whether it be geographic residency, financial means and/or socioeconomic status, family background, and/or parental education level or other, has affected or inspired your life.

Application Deadline

October 4, 2024 – Final deadline for candidates to apply.

Advance Local Media offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package with affordable options for your healthcare including medical, dental and vision plans, mental health support options, flexible spending accounts, fertility assistance, a competitive 401(k) plan to help plan for your future, generous paid time off, paid parental and caregiver leave and an employee assistance program to support your work/life balance, optional legal assistance, life insurance options, as well as flexible holidays to honor cultural diversity.

PA Media Group is a digitally focused news and information company which publishes and operates PennLive, Penn Studios, The Patriot-News and a growing suite of digital, video and print products. The Pulitzer Prize winning Patriot-News has been serving the communities and people of central Pennsylvania since 1854. PA Media Group is committed to being the most comprehensive, in-depth source of news and information for readers delivered how they want it online, on their phone or tablet, and in print.

PA Media Group is a part of Advance Local Media, one of the largest media groups in the United States, which operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching 58+ million people monthly with our quality, real-time journalism and community engagement. Our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-first, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Forward-looking. For more information about Advance Local, please visit www.advancelocal.com.

Advance Local Media is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Advance Local does not provide sponsorship for work visas or employment authorization in the United States. Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. will be considered for this position.