Reporter

The Monitor, a growing news organization in Jefferson County and East Helena, Montana, is looking for a thoughtful and ambitious reporter.

This is a full-time position, and an opportunity to produce innovative, high-impact local journalism that builds engagement and drives change in complex and rapidly changing rural communities.

The Monitor has served Jefferson County for over a century, and has gained recognition and deep trust for our independent and authoritative local coverage. In 2025, we expanded with new online and print products for East Helena, a small city facing the prospect of explosive growth over the coming years.

We're focused on the institutions that ground civic life: Schools, businesses, and public safety. But we’re also interested in big questions that will shape life in our communities for generations to come: How, for one, will infrastructure and services keep pace with population growth? How do land and water use map against the demands of economic growth? How can growth be stewarded in ways that respect history and culture? These are rich stories that matter to our audience.

The Monitor has made several strategic shifts to better serve our audience and community while ensuring financial sustainability:

• A gradual shift to a digital-first publication strategy.
• Market expansion: The Monitor's paid circulation is up 50% over the last five years.
• Fiscal sponsorship and successful donation campaigns.

This is who we’re looking for:

• An entrepreneurial journalist who is passionate about local news.
• Someone who lives (or wants to) in Jefferson County, East Helena or nearby. This job is all about being there.
• Understanding of and enthusiasm for a solutions-based approach to reporting (and/or an eagerness to learn).
• An entrepreneurial and collaborative mindset. We’re looking for someone who’s comfortable and confident charting their own course, a true partner who is excited to be a key part of this growing enterprise.

What we offer

• Salary of $20-23/hour, with some flexibility in hours.
• A commitment to quality journalism: The Monitor has won the general excellence award among small papers in Montana for the last five years.
• An opportunity to experiment, take risks, and pursue big ideas.
• Flexibility and encouragement to combine weekly news reporting with longer-term enterprise projects.

The reporter will cover some community events at night, and a few on weekends. We'll also expect this person to spend time in the community developing relationships and story ideas. This is a great entry-level opportunity to gain real-world journalism experience in a dynamic context. For more experienced journalists, it's a chance to do meaningful reporting that reflects and strengthens the fabric of rural communities.

Diversity of perspective, identity, and experience is important to us. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to seek employment, and we make all employment decisions without regard to race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other factors protected by federal, state or local law.