Freelance Community Reporter

Inkster deserves its own newsroom. Help us grow it.Inkster Now is a new independent news outlet covering Inkster, Michigan, and nothing else. We’re looking for a reporter who wants to be known around town: someone who shows up, earns residents’ trust, and finds the stories people are talking about before anyone else covers them.One week you might cover a new business opening on Michigan Avenue. The next might start with a resident asking what happened to a housing project the city approved months ago, and end with you getting the answer. Your work goes straight to the people it affects, on our website and in our weekly newsletter.What you’ll doPitch your own stories or take assignments on local government, housing, schools, businesses, public works, and community life.Report in person: attend public meetings, walk neighborhoods, and talk with the people a story affects.Run down resident tips by reviewing public records, checking facts independently, and giving everyone named in a story a fair chance to respond.File clear, accurate stories on deadline, work with the editor on revisions, and keep following up when residents are still waiting for answers.Why report for Inkster Now!Your ideas get heard. Pitch what you see in the community, not just what lands in your inbox.Bylines that matter. You’ll be covering stories no one else is covering, for readers who care.Fast pay. You’re paid within 48 hours of publication, with no waiting weeks for a check.A real editor in your corner. Every story gets editing, feedback, and support, which is valuable if you’re early in your career.Get in on the ground floor. We’re new and growing, and our first reporters will help shape what local news looks like here.How assignments and pay work$250 flat fee per articleAbout 4 articles per monthStories typically run 600–1,000 words. Your editor will confirm the target length for each assignment.Before you start reporting, we’ll agree on the scope, deadline, and length. No surprises.Payment is made within 48 hours of publication.This is an independent contractor (1099) role.What we’re looking forSome journalism experience, ideally a year or more. Campus journalism, newsroom internships, freelance work, and coursework involving original interviews and reporting all count. Students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.Comfort interviewing people you’ve never met, asking follow-up questions, and checking every fact.The ability to write clearly and hit deadlines.The ability to report in person in Inkster. Knowing the city is a huge plus.Apply through LinkedIn and include:Your resume or a brief summary of your journalism experienceLinks to one or two samples of your original reportingA short pitch for an Inkster story you’d like to cover. We will read every pitch. A great idea from someone new to the field can beat a long resume.