Do you believe that a well-informed community is a stronger community

Do you have a passion for uncovering your communitys most meaningful stories Do you believe that local news is the glue that holds a neighborhood together Have you seen when a single impactful story can foster a stronger local connection

At Village Media Ltd. we dont just report the news we maintain the digital town square. We believe that rigorous independent and nonpartisan journalism is the bedrock of a healthy democracy and a critical community service. We seek five versatile high-energy Reporters to serve in each of these Illinois communities: Bloomington-Normal Champaign-Urbana Decatur Peoria and Springfield.

The Voice of the Community

You wont just be filing stories; youll be capturing the authentic local narrative through compelling writing timely reporting and engaging digital content. Were looking for a Reporter who knows their community better than anyone else. This is a local role where youre immersed in the local scenecultivating sources and listening to what actually affects your neighbors lives. Youll work with your Editor to ensure our site is the most trusted voice for the stories that connect inform and strengthen the community you call home.

What You Will Do:

• Local coverage - Report a dynamic mix of breaking news deep-dive features and high-impact stories that accurately reflect the civics cultural and economic life of the community.

• Community trust - Uphold the highest standards of factual accuracy thorough verification and nonpartisan reporting in every story you pursue.

• Local interests - Pitch and pursue stories that matter most to our readers using digital metrics and community feedback to guide your beats.

• CARES Initiatives - Collaborate with our Community Coordinator to identify and cover CARES initiatives and Community Conversations that drive local impact.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Relentless curiosity.

• A commitment to fairness accuracy and journalistic integrity.

• Strong news-gathering and writing skills with the ability to complement your stories with photography.

• The ability to thrive in a hyper-local news environment working comfortably on tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.

• The ability to constructively listen so that community feedback turns into solutions-oriented reporting that addresses the real-world concerns of the people living there.

• A valid drivers license and a reliable vehicle. Since you will cover every corner of your municipality your vehicle is your office and the community is your newsroom.

Compensation and Logistics

• Work Arrangement: Remote/Work-from-Home with a strict requirement of residing within your designated community. Open to non-resident candidates willing to relocate to the designated community.

• Compensation: $50000 USD per annum.

• Hours: Generally 40 hours per week Monday through Friday. Because this role is deeply rooted in the community some evening and weekend flexibility is required to cover the town halls local events and breaking stories that matter most to our readers.

To Apply: Tell Us Your Story

At Village we are people with heart grit and deep roots in the communities we serve. Because our mission is entirely focused on genuine human connection trust and local vitality we do things authentically.

We promise that no artificial intelligence (AI) automated keyword matching or large language models (LLMs) are used in our resume and cover-letter selection process.

We honor your uniqueness and believe your real-world experiences shape your character. Every application is evaluated by actual human beings who care deeply about the communities we serve including our future colleagues.

If you are ready to tell the story of your community please submit your application with the subject line: Reporter Peoria.

What to Include:

Your Resume; 2-page limit: Walk us through your journalistic journey. Highlight your achievements in community beat reporting public service journalism and impactful storytelling. Show us your ability to build trust on the ground manage tight newsroom deadlines and deliver high-impact coverage that serves the public interest.

Your Story (In Lieu of a Traditional Cover Letter); 2-page limit: Tell us who you are beyond a list of bullet points. We want to read a story you are truly proud your submission please consider the following:

• What makes you proud to live in your community

• Tell us about a local business or non-profit you love and the story behind why they matter.

• Share a meaningful momentwhether you were making a tangible impact locally or witnessing a community leader you admire.

About Village Media

Village Media is a leading digital media company dedicated to strengthening local communities through trusted journalism technology and civic engagement. Headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Village Media operates a growing network of local news publications and community platforms across Canada and the United States.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin age genetic information disability or veteran status. We are committed to providing a working environment that honors the unique backgrounds and perspectives of every team member.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.