The Georgetown Independent & Free Press is looking for an energetic and resourceful reporter skilled in digital storytelling whose community-centered coverage will aim to inform and enhance civic engagement in Halton Hills.

This temporary, full-time opportunity is made possible through Canada's Local Journalism Initiative, which supports the creation of local journalism in underserved communities across the country.

Stories produced during the contract, ending September 30, 2025, will be published on Metroland's websites, including theifp.ca and insidehalton.com. Your work will also be shared through the LJI portal with other media outlets.

This is a full-time, Contract position.

Deadline to apply is May 15, 2025

Salary: $37,850.13 to $56,829.84

The Georgetown Independent & Free Press is the source of news and information in Halton Hills. The IFP has been keeping residents in Georgetown, Acton and surrounding communities informed of issues that impact their lives, including local government, education, health care, crime and community events, for over a century.

We continue to evolve, grow and change with our readers and our communities. We invest in trained journalists and offer ongoing educational opportunities to remain current with media trends and readers' needs. We fuse their expertise with first-party data and insight from our local community advisory council to inform our coverage.

Our Commitment To Diversity
We strive to be a leader in building and cultivating an employee community framed around fairness, support and opportunity. We believe that what makes us different, makes a difference. And as a team, the diversity of our backgrounds, interests and experiences is what enriches our work, and our workplaces. We welcome all, and we strive for an inclusive culture that allows individual growth and shared success.

• Coordinate with the Managing Editor to generate fresh and interesting local news and feature stories.
• Provide comprehensive and engaging coverage of municipal government, written in traditional and alternative story forms.
• Adapt to an environment where news and information is updated frequently, and the work atmosphere demands urgency.
• Produce high-quality, trustworthy journalism using excellent reporting and researching skills, including data analysis.
• Understand the value of information, large and small, and the connection between what is being reported on and our readers.
• Other duties, as required.

• You have a diploma or degree in journalism or in a related field.
• You're a motivated self-starter, an innovative, driven journalist with the ability to write clean copy and take photos.
• You have a proven news judgment and a strong work ethic.
• You possess online posting skills and ‘get' social media with the know-how to use different platforms to source and share information.
• You're highly organized and have the skills to manage time and prioritize tasks.
• You love a deadline and excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven and demanding environment.
• You're a team-oriented individual who can build professional relationships with colleagues and the community.
• You're well-versed in Canadian libel law and Canadian Press style.
• You are prepared to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• You can work remotely but are able to travel within the community for assignments. Familiarity with Halton Hills is considered an asset

Your salary will be paid to you by Metroland through the Local Journalism Initiative grant received from the Government of Canada.

The successful Community-Centered and Civic Engagement journalist will report on stories that are hyperlocal to Halton Hills, providing coverage of everyday life in the community, including stories about upcoming events, new businesses and restaurants. You will also provide regular coverage of government affairs, local issues that impact residents of all ages, like those brought on by the area's booming growth and shifting demographics, education and school accommodation, housing, affordability and growing food insecurity, access to health and mental health, local crime and policing, among other topics. The quality journalism produced will be comprehensive, fair, balance and reflective of the community's diversity, while also serving readers with news and information that aim to inform, engage and strengthen community.

Depending on the story, scope of coverage, as well as depth and breadth of coverage, reporter will generate a minimum of eight stories weekly.

AODA
Torstar Group of Companies is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for candidates, including persons with disabilities. In compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Human Rights Code we will endeavour to provide accommodation to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process upon request. If you are selected for an interview and you require accommodation due to a disability during the recruitment process, please notify the hiring manager upon scheduling the interview of your requirements.