The nonprofit Salt Lake Tribune is looking for someone to help reimagine the way we share news and engage with our community around food and drink in Utah.

Come join us in a rapidly growing and diversifying state that enjoys both fine dining and fast food, and where a vibrant bar scene thrives amid strict and often eccentric liquor laws.

As our Utah Eats lead, you’ll be a central player in The Tribune’s plans to create a standalone food-and-drink vertical in 2023 — a space outside the traditional confines of food reporting. The Utah Eats vertical will include a curated restaurant database, a dedicated social media presence, appearances at public events and more. You’ll be the face of The Tribune for those who are passionate about eating and drinking in Utah. Restaurants and bars are a big part of Utah’s food and drink scene. But so is figuring out how to shop for dinner for a large family. So is the sober-conscious movement, in a state where much of the population doesn’t imbibe and where mocktail culture is growing in popularity.

We’re looking for someone with a bright personality who can connect with people — readers, viewers and attendees — in all parts of Utah’s unique food-and-drink culture. We want to share stories in ways that aren’t strictly tethered to a news publication, beyond the usual articles of what’s opening and what’s closing.

You’ll pursue news of interest and impact from Utah’s restaurants and bars — picking up on trends, as you talk with chefs, bartenders, restaurateurs, bar owners and customers.

You’ll examine Utah liquor policy, as set by the Utah Legislature and enforced by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services commission, which hands out the state’s scarce liquor licenses, illustrating how those policies affect real people.

You will story-plan with your editor, moving where the reporting takes you. You should be comfortable with collaboration, co-bylining stories with other reporters, and working with visual journalists and digital team members to find where video or social-media platforms are the best way to tell a story.

You must have a strong grounding in journalism ethics and a proven ability to build reader loyalty and engagement through public service journalism.

Responsibilities and skills

• Writing news stories on tight deadlines with clarity, accuracy and compelling storytelling. Knowledge and use of AP style.
• A strong dedication to diversity in storytelling and to development of a broad range of sources.
• Ability to match the journalism with the optimal format, including dailies, enterprise, video, etc.
• Maintaining a schedule that allows for both quick-turn stories and the ability to work on longer-term projects.

• Mastery of social media – both as a news gathering tool and as a way to push the news out quickly and build our audience, as well as your own brand.
• Comfort with public speaking, when appearing at events representing The Tribune.
• Understanding audience data – which of your stories are resonating with readers and which are not? Working with other newsroom leaders to determine best practices moving forward.
• Write and report on a continuous-news cycle, publishing to digital platforms as well as print.
• Seeking support to determine best digital tools for conveying news to readers in varying circumstances.

• Participate in training sessions offered and seek learning opportunities.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Family leave.
• Cellphone stipend.

About The Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune is a community-owned nonprofit, the nation’s first legacy newspaper to make this transition. Based in Salt Lake City, The Tribune is a two-time Pulitzer winner that prides itself on aggressive watchdog reporting.

Utah offers unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities in the Wasatch Mountains and the national parks such as Zion and Arches. Salt Lake City is home to a vibrant arts scene, a growing group of quality restaurants and the Utah Jazz.

We are proud of the work we do and of our newsroom culture. This is a collaborative, energetic organization constantly seeking ways to improve. The Tribune is an inclusive employer and is striving to continue diversifying our staff. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

How to apply

Please send a cover letter and a resume to Sean P. Means at spmeans@sltrib.com. Put “Utah Eats reporter” in the subject line. Include examples of past work.