**Job Description** **_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. **Additional Information** 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. Advance Ohio 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 52+ 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 visit www.advancelocal.com . Advance Ohio is a digitally focused company that operates Cleveland.com, Sun News, Today in Ohio and an assortment of newsletters. It also is responsible for multimedia ad sales, marketing and content for The Plain Dealer, Sun News, Today in Ohio and Cleveland.com. _Advance Local Media is proud to be an equal opportunity 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 Media 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.