Summary of the Growth and Development Reporter job at The Banner

Be at the forefront of building something new.

The Banner is looking for an ambitious journalist to cover growth and development in Montgomery County, Maryland. 

In this role, you’ll focus primarily on residential and commercial development, and its intersection with local government and politics, while jumping in on breaking news and other assignments as needed. You’ll produce bold, accountability-focused journalism that helps readers understand Montgomery County’s challenges and considers long-term solutions for the region’s affordability crisis. 

We’re seeking a reporter who can build trust with communities, move beyond routine coverage and find compelling stories that keep community members informed and engaged. You’ll develop a strong source network across the development community, including builders, planners, housing experts, and lawmakers, while collaborating with The Banner’s business team, data team and visuals staff. 

If you’re energized by data-driven reporting and stories that make a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do: 

• Produce a steady stream of compelling enterprise stories that highlight residential and commercial development opportunities and challenges. 
• Break news stories on the growth and development beat. 
• Tell stories in creative and nontraditional formats, making use of visuals, social media and data.
• Collaborate with The Banner's audience and data teams to engage the audience and distribute your stories across all platforms.  
• Work in coordination with other Banner editors, reporters and staff to cover growth, development, housing, politics and related topics.

What You’ll Bring: 

• Strong writing skills and the ability to present complex topics in a conversational manner 
• Excellent news judgment and fact-checking skills 
• Comfort with working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while maintaining accuracy 
• Comfort with reading budgets and presentations 
• Passion for news and journalism that resonates with readers, particularly Montgomery County residents  
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills   
• Ability to communicate clearly and work well with others
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as news demands   
• Excellent planning, organizational and time management abilities   
• Familiarity with audience metrics, social media and SEO to drive audience growth and digital subscriptions   
• Familiarity with public records requests and project planning 
• Commitment to upholding journalistic values and ethics 
• Familiarity with Montgomery County or Maryland are a plus

Looking for a way to stand out? Submit a resume and cover letter outlining your vision for covering growth and development in Montgomery County that will best serve readers. Include a variety of story samples that best illustrate the breadth of your reporting and writing skills.  

Additional Information:  

• Clips of your work: Please submit work samples relevant to this role.   
• Schedule: This position requires travel and working nights and weekends.  
• Location: This role is based in Montgomery County, Maryland  

Salary Range: $65,000 - $95,000 Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by several factors including experience, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. We periodically review all teammates’ pay to ensure a great compensation package that is fair and equal across the board.

Our amazing benefits include:

• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Retirement savings - 401K plan offered through Human Interest, with a company match
• Student Loan Debt Repayment Assistance for qualified employees
• Full health benefits - medical, dental, vision, prescription, FSA/HSA., and coverage for family/dependents
• Sick Leave eligible for rollover 
• Commuter Benefits
• 11 Paid National Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous Parental Leave
• Company paid access to a wellness platform to support mental, financial and physical wellbeing

Our Core Values:

• Do what’s right. Honesty, morality, respect and the mission guide our actions and decisions. By doing the right thing, we inspire others to believe.
• Work together. We collaborate to create something special. Together we challenge assumptions, trust each other, take risks, and foster transparent and direct communication.
• Listen to be heard. Our stories are trustworthy. They are inspired by and created for our readers. Their story is our story. Communities are at the center of our journalism, and everything we do.
• Deliver impactful results. Acting as one accountable team and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we deliver bold and innovative results. We act fast, execute and learn. We celebrate great outcomes.
• Be inclusive. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and act by curating a culture that leverages diverse perspectives as the key to fulfilling our mission. The Banner is for all of us.

The Venetoulis Institute embraces diversity and inclusion, and we are wholeheartedly committed to being proactive in inspiring a culture of inclusion across our organization. We are dedicated to establishing an organization that reflects the fundamental respect for different ways of working and living, and we assure every employee the opportunity to reach their full potential.

We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation due to a disability to participate in the application process, please contact careers@thebanner.com to request accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, adjustments in the application process, modifications or assistance regarding job interviews, and accommodations to enable access to our facilities. We appreciate the value that individuals with disabilities bring to our workforce and encourage applicants with disabilities to disclose their needs for accommodation to facilitate a smooth and inclusive recruitment experience.