Join the largest newspaper in Portage County during this unprecedented call for local writing talent

City Times Staff

The Stevens Point City Times is now hiring freelance journalists with a passion for the community.

Potential journalists should have some awareness of recent history in Stevens Point, Plover, Whiting and Hull, as well as a familiarity with local annual festivals and events.

The positions are long-term and anyone over the age of 16 is encouraged to apply.

Freelancers- also known as “stringers”- must be able to provide objective and thorough written, photographic and video coverage of community events, as well as sports, education or local economic news. Schedules vary but potential freelancers should be consistent in their availability.

“Nobody has ever conducted this sort of ‘cattle call’ for local journalists before in our area,” said Brandi Makuski, editor-in-chief. “It’s been our experience that readers want a higher level of culture, substance and quality in their news. For us, that requires more boots on the ground in the form residents with a vested interest in the community.”

With few exceptions, the news industry across the nation is experiencing large-scale layoffs and reduction in services, but demand for the City Times continues to increase from a growing base of readers, Makuski said.

“What has always made the City Times different is we’re willing to do what our competitors won’t; everyone in our City Times family is dug-in and laser-focused on local news,” she added. “But we can’t keep up with demand. We need help.”

The Stevens Point City Times launched as a weekly online news publication in 2010. Since then, the website has become a daily staple for residents in the metro area and added a weekly print edition in May of 2014. Today, the City Times has the largest circulation of any newspaper in Portage County.

No experience with formal news reporting is necessary but applicants should have access to a digital camera, a good driving record and insurance, and be able to pass a criminal background check.

Submit your resume to Makuski at [email protected] no later than Oct. 22.