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General Assignment Reporter Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a driven Reporter to join our community-focused newsroom. This role is responsible ... Research, report, and write accurate news, feature, enterprise, and special assignment stories ...

This reporter will closely monitor and build connections in the Spanish-speaking community of metro Phoenix to craft service journalism and answer reader questions. * This reporter will produce a ...

New

Story selection and assignment of stories to reporters and photographers. Prepare newscast rundown ... general office equipment and computers. Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights ...

... own initiative on general and technical matters in accordance with established guidelines and ... court reporter resources; demonstrates continuous effort to improve management of the court that ...

General Assignment Reporter information

See Arizona salary details

$14K

$39.5K

$72.2K

How much do general assignment reporter jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for general assignment reporter in Arizona is $39,492.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29,800.00 and $46,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between General Assignment Reporter vs Beat Reporter?

AspectGeneral Assignment ReporterBeat Reporter
Primary FocusCovering a wide range of topics and breaking newsSpecialized coverage of a specific beat or subject
Work EnvironmentVaried, often on short notice, covering different storiesConsistent, in-depth reporting within a specific area
CredentialsJournalism degree, reporting experienceSimilar credentials, often with expertise in the beat

Both roles require journalism skills and reporting experience, but a General Assignment Reporter covers diverse topics, while a Beat Reporter specializes in a particular area. The choice depends on whether you prefer variety or in-depth expertise in a specific field.

What does a General Assignment Reporter do?

A General Assignment Reporter is a journalist who covers a wide range of news stories rather than focusing on a specific beat, such as politics or sports. They are often sent to report on breaking news, community events, crime, human interest stories, and other topics as assigned by their editors. Their day-to-day tasks can vary greatly, requiring flexibility, strong research skills, and the ability to work under tight deadlines. General Assignment Reporters must quickly gather information, conduct interviews, and write clear, accurate articles for print, online, or broadcast media.

What are some common challenges faced by General Assignment Reporters in managing diverse story topics and tight deadlines?

General Assignment Reporters often juggle multiple stories on a variety of topics, which requires quick adaptability and strong organizational skills. They typically work under tight deadlines, making it essential to prioritize tasks and efficiently gather accurate information from different sources. Balancing breaking news coverage with longer-term feature stories can be demanding, but it also offers opportunities to develop a wide-ranging skill set and build relationships across newsroom teams. Collaboration with editors, photographers, and digital teams is key to producing timely, well-rounded stories.

What Is a General Assignment Reporter?

A general assignment reporter writes about and reports on various topics for a newspaper, news website, or television station. As a general assignment reporter, the story types you are reporting on can range from human interest to breaking news. Your assignments change on a regular basis, depending on the most pressing events of the day. Your primary duties revolve around finding content for your report. A general assignment reporter job is a great way to gain experience before becoming an editor, news director, or columnist. Most general assignment reporters earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, or a related field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a General Assignment Reporter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a General Assignment Reporter, you need excellent writing, research, and interviewing skills, typically supported by a degree in journalism, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with content management systems (CMS), digital publishing tools, and multimedia equipment is often required. Strong soft skills include curiosity, adaptability, time management, and effective interpersonal communication. These abilities are crucial for producing accurate, timely, and engaging news stories in a fast-paced and ever-changing media environment.
What cities in Arizona are hiring for General Assignment Reporter jobs? Cities in Arizona with the most General Assignment Reporter job openings:
What are popular job titles related to General Assignment Reporter jobs in AZ? For General Assignment Reporter jobs in AZ, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various General Assignment Reporter job openings in Arizona as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 62% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 24% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,492 per year, or $19 per hour.
Arizona Connect Trending Reporter

Arizona Connect Trending Reporter

Gannett Co., Inc.

Phoenix, AZ • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago


Gannett rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 35 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

36th of 67 rated media


Job description

|Current USA TODAY Co. Employees- Please ensure you are using our abbreviated process on the internal Careers site by logging into Dayforce through MyApps|
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. If you are a California resident, you acknowledge that by applying for a job with us, this California Job Applicant Privacy Notice will apply to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com
The Arizona Republic is looking for an Arizona Connect Trending Reporter to join our service journalism and trending team. This reporter will provide timely and audience-focused coverage in metro Phoenix, including its many neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
We are looking for a reporter who is quick and flexible - full of topic-focused story ideas, who can urgently pursue them and write them at volume in varied formats. This reporter should be deeply curious, highly competitive, and possess the desire to inform digital audiences. The reporter should be comfortable working with local and national editors and reporters across the USA TODAY Network, and able to seamlessly move between topics important to the city's neighborhoods.
We start with the headline, so great digital headline-writing skills are a must.
The reporter will work alongside our Arizona Republic reporters and editors and content strategists to cover high-interest stories, help swarm breaking news and plan for major events.
This reporter should be comfortable interacting with and listening to social media and other digital communities, and being comfortable on camera is a must. They will use data and analytics,Google Trends and other SEO tools to inform their story choices and presentation on and off our platforms. This reporter must love telling stories quickly when needed, in-depth when called for, and always with accuracy. Living in metro Phoenix or the area and having great familiarity with the city, Arizona as a whole, culture, major events and top interests, is required.
The typical shift will start early, but needs, meaning nights and/or weekends may also be required.
Responsibilities:
  • Monitor emails, social media, community groups, and other sources to find stories.
  • Monitor developing stories across news, social and other media platforms for key topics important to Arizona residents and people who work there.
  • Efficiently and accurately write stories, several per day.
  • Find, pitch and swiftly produce stories on topics of emerging interest, with a focus on what readers want and need to know.
  • Ensure content is properly optimized for competitive search ranking and best practices for user experience.
  • Create video using an array of tools to deliver trending and breaking news across platforms in realtime.

Requirements:
  • Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism or related field.
  • Expert at using social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Reddit and Bluesky.
  • Command of concise writing, spelling, grammar and AP style.
  • Good fact-checking and reporting skills.
  • Well-organized, detail-oriented and flexible.
  • Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

Application Instructions
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
  1. Your resume - one to two pages.
  2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
  3. Links to 15-20 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee's race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant's disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals' application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.'s Recruitment Department at Recruit@usatodayco.com. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.

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