The Silver City Daily Press and Independent is looking to expand its full-time staff to better cover local government, the environment and more in the rural but lively communities of Grant County, New Mexico. We are a truly independent, locally owned daily newspaper that does good old-fashioned, roll-up-your-sleeves journalism. We answer to our community, not corporate owners or shareholders. We are not about clicks and hits, the latest quirky video or metrics.
We don’t sit behind our desks waiting for the PIO to call. We are out on the scene — of the fire, the SWAT stand-off, the shooting, the latest festival or event.
Our community is a rich tapestry of diverse people and events, and we report on it all.
From our rural, agricultural roots at the Grant County Fair to stolen famous paintings found in our midst, our stories often get state and nationwide attention. For the past several years, our reporters have come away from the state press association conference with several awards each, and our staff is an active part of the communities we serve.
About the job(s):
We’re seeking a full-time editor and/or news reporter, depending on your skill set.
Our next editor will have previous newspaper experience, with a journalism degree preferred but not required.
Spanish-language skills would be considered a major plus, but are not required. In addition to supervision of the news- room staff, the editor would be expected to cover one or more beats — more than likely including local government.
The ideal candidate for a reporting position would have two years’ experience in journalism or a related field, but a remarkable recent college graduate would be considered. A journalism degree is preferred but not required. Spanish-language skills would be considered a major plus, but are not required. A reporter would be required to cover regular government meetings and other events, as well as contribute frequent features and enterprise stories.
These kinds of jobs are truly rare. Here in Silver City, its nearby historic Mining District communities and the surrounding Gila National Forest, you will have the opportunity to cover beats and events that happen nowhere else. From the annual and growing forest fires to drought conditions and a controversial diversion of the Gila River, this region is at the forefront of environmental changes in the Southwest. It also holds true to its roots, with open-pit copper mining and ranching still playing a vital role to the economy and culture.
About the newspaper:
The Silver City Daily Press publishes daily, except Thursdays, Sundays and federal holidays. Our free Indepedent is published on Thursdays, and covers arts, entertainment and the outdoors. We’re owned by the Silver City Independent Publishing Co., LLC — of which the sole member is our publisher, Nickolas Seibel — just the third owner of the newspapers since they began publication in 1896. We work out of the Pueblo Deco-style Daily Press Building, built in 1937 to house the newspaper and completely renovated in 2017. The Daily Press discontinued its longtime membership in the Associated Press in 2014, and we focus our resources almost exclusively on news, events and people directly related to Silver City, Grant County and Southwest New Mexico.
About the community:
The people are friendly, the weather great, and if you like the outdoors, the 3.3 million-acre Gila National Forest is our backyard. We are a two-hour drive from the nearest mall, however, so if shopping is your thing, you might not find this town a good fit. But we’ve got your basic needs covered with everything from Walmart to mom & pop shops, and enough arts and cultural events to entertain you outside of the office.
Grant County, population 29,514, is a great place to live as well as work. Silver City, with a population of 10,315, is
at 6,000 feet in elevation, and is home to Western New Mexico University. It is a regular stop for touring musical acts, the home of a long list of festivals and events, and offers some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the country. The Gila River and its tributaries offer kayaking, floating and world-class fly fishing opportunities. Natural and developed hot springs abound. The Gila National Forest — and, at its heart, the Gila Wilderness, the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states — the Continental Divide Trail and nearby City of Rocks State Park offer hiking like nowhere else.
Three hours from both El Paso and Tucson, and a four-hour drive south from Albuquerque, the Grant County Airport offers three round-trip flights daily from the Albuquerque Sunport, as well as one round trip to Phoenix Sky Harbor. Grant County is an isolated but active oasis in the high desert.
To apply:
Send a resume, cover letter and PDF files of your clips to jobs@scdailypress.com.
