Criminal Justice Reporter

Strengthening and empowering all of the communities we serve.

Criminal Justice Reporter - Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are seeking an aggressive, curious criminal justice reporter to cover Northeast Ohio.

This role in Ohio's largest newsroom goes far beyond transcription and the police blotter. This reporter will be on the front lines of breaking news, expected to move fast and be among the first to publish accurate, hard-hitting crime and public safety stories as they unfold. We're looking for a reporter who will step back from the daily churn to develop ambitious enterprise stories that explain how the system works and whom it affects. You'll be part of a team committed to meaningful coverage of safety, equity and accountability in our communities.

We don't want to just recite the facts on a fatal shooting, for example. We aim to add clarity, accountability and humanity. Our criminal justice reporting has examined gun violence through the lens of public health, probed juvenile crime trends and explored local anxieties among immigrant communities in the wake of ICE aggression. This reporter will help push that work forward as part of a team led by editor Amy Russo.

What you'll do...

Break news fast:
Cover breaking public safety news with speed and accuracy, often under tight deadlines. Then work to flesh out that initial report with detail, background and context.

Build sources and trust:
Develop strong relationships with law enforcement, attorneys, advocates, victims and impacted communities.

Dig deeper:
Pitch and produce enterprise stories that investigate law enforcement practices, crime trends and the justice system itself. This includes sourcing beyond official narratives and digging into data and records.

Be innovative:

Regularly use AI tools to knock out daily stories, understand data and deepen enterprise.

The base salary range is $50,000 to $65,000 per year.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field or equivalent experience
• A minimum of three years of journalism experience with a proven ability in reporting and writing.
• Experience covering crime and public safety
• Demonstrated ability to work well on deadline
• Strong enterprise instincts and a track record of developing original story ideas
• Solid understanding of criminal justice systems and legal processes
• Comfort working with public records and data

This job requires reliable transportation to meet sources and cover breaking news in the field.