KC Opinion Writer bei The Kansas City Star

The Kansas City Star’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opinion section seeks a storyteller who can connect with and engage our local and thriving reader community. We want someone who tells the everchanging story of Kansas City – from Tay Tay and Travis, to taxes and crime. This columnist must hold leaders to account, and meet readers in the space where they live and work. 

This is a full-time position, and this writer will be a member of the Star’s editorial board. 

We are seeking a columnist with a powerful and captivating voice, capable of crafting provocative yet thoughtful opinions and stories that deeply resonate with our readership. The ideal candidate will be an incisive thinker and a masterful writer, adept at articulating positions with precision, logic, and factual accuracy. Excellent reporting skills are essential for this role.

Candidates should have at least five years’ journalism experience and be willing to live in the Kansas City five-county area. A background in opinion writing is a plus but not a requirement.

This columnist will participate in daily Editorial Board meetings and write at least 3 opinion pieces a week, which may include editorials. These can include short, sharp, rapid-response pieces turned around quickly as news breaks. We are looking for a writer with strong editing skills and news judgment. 

McClatchy Media’s journalists are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage artificial intelligence and other automation to enhance and elevate their work and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on source-building and high quality, deeply reported journalism.

Who are we?

The Star Editorial Board consists of editorial writers and columnists who are deeply knowledgeable about state and local issues, while also understanding the impact of national policy. Board members foster an environment of mutual respect, even when opinions diverge, which is both anticipated and encouraged. We engage in thorough discussions and are adept at responding promptly to breaking news.

What you'll bring

-Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers.

-Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.

-Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of ideas.

-Ability to work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories.

-A track record for innovation, learning and using new skills and technologies, especially AI.

-Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.

Where will you call home?

Kansas City, a vibrant metropolis straddling the Missouri-Kansas border, offers a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, historical significance, and culinary delights. Renowned globally for its distinctive barbecue, the city boasts a culinary scene deeply rooted in slow-smoked meats and tangy sauces, drawing food enthusiasts from far and wide. Beyond its gastronomic fame, Kansas City is also celebrated for its profound jazz heritage, a legacy that pulses through the city's veins.

At the heart of this musical tradition lies the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, a neighborhood that once served as a thriving hub for African American culture and music. Within this district, the American Jazz Museum stands as a testament to the genre's enduring influence, offering immersive exhibits and live performances that transport visitors through the evolution of jazz. Sharing a building with the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum further enriches the district's historical narrative, honoring the pioneering athletes who broke barriers and shaped the course of baseball history.

Kansas City is affectionately known as the "City of Fountains." These ornate water features, scattered throughout parks, boulevards, and public spaces, add to the city's aesthetic charm and provide tranquil respites for residents and visitors alike. From its storied past to its dynamic present, Kansas City continues to evolve while cherishing the unique elements that define its character: a deep appreciation for art, music, history, and, of course, unparalleled barbecue.

What we’ll bring:
As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. 

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com. 

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month, The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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