Summary
Description
The Gunnison Country Times is a print weekly that serves the readers of the Gunnison Valley in central Colorado. The population of Gunnison County is approximately 17,000, with roughly 6,000 of those residents in the City of Gunnison.
Gunnison has been a ranching community from its founding in the 1880s, with influence from gold, silver and coal mining at various times. Today, ranching remains a key economic activity in the county, but is joined by tourism, led by the Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area, owned by Vail Ski Co. Over 85% of Gunnison County is public land, drawing year-round visitation. The community is also anchored by Western Colorado University in Gunnison and federal land management agencies that administer Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.
While Gunnison is a relatively small community, the issues facing residents — and which are covered in the pages of the Gunnison Times — are not. These include: water policy related to the Colorado River Compact between seven western states along the Colorado River; the protection of the Gunnison sage-grouse, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act; chronic housing shortages endemic to service economy communities; wildfire policy and mitigation; the balance between outdoor recreation pressures and environmental conservation; land development policy; just to name a few.
The Times can trace its lineage through a number of community newspapers back 144 years to the earliest days of pioneer settlement. We take seriously our mission to carry on being the "first draft" of the history of this place.
Application process:
Please send CV, cover letter and any letters of recommendation to Alan Wartes at publisher@gunnisontimes.com. Please put "Staff writer application" in the subject line of the email.
Job description:
This position involves general assignment reporting within a newsroom of one editor and three writers/photographers. Above all, it requires a deep sense of curiosity about the workings of all aspects of a small community and the lives of the people who live here.
Qualifications:
• A degree in journalism or equivalent proven job experience
• An ability to comprehend complex issues and communicate them to readers in clear, concise writing using AP style
• An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding, deadline-driven environment
• A strong commitment to fair, accurate, ethical and non-partisan reporting
• An ability to be a reliable team member able to support others in the pursuit of excellence
What we offer:
• A competitive starting salary with room for growth
• Participation in an employer-matched simple IRA retirement plan
• 14 days paid time off per year, plus further PTO flexibility
• A strong company commitment to providing a safe and supportive work environment
