Cairns Community Newspapers' philosophy is the public's right to know about matters of importance is paramount. The newspapers have a special responsibility as surrogate of its readers to be a vigilant watchdog of their legitimate public interests.

Our journalists cover all sorts of topics: news; items of cultural, sporting or scientific interest; local community and national events; entertainment, politics, lifestyle and human interest stories - in short anything in the public arena which is interesting or breakthrough.

There is no such thing as a 'typical' day in newspapers, but as journalist or reporter you will need aptitude in the following:

• An interest in current affairs at all levels

• A lively interest in people, places and events

• An ability to write in a style which is eloquent, fluent and easy to understand

• An appreciation of the part a local newspaper plays in the community

• A willingness to accept irregular hours and an ability to work under pressure to meet editorial deadlines

• Determination and persistence.

• A sense of humour

What we look for

We look for a range of characteristics when selecting a new member of our talented team.

• Senior applicants require knowledge usually acquired in four years of university (degree in English or Journalism including some marketing or research courses) supplemented by one to three years of on-the-job training. 

• Junior reporters need to have undergone formal training or completed various English Writing-Journalism courses. Juniors are allocated work from the news desk and submit their story to the news editor / senior journalist who trains them.

• Applicants must have a writing style and tone conducive to our company standards.

• Excellent command of written and verbal communication skills.

• Good organisational skills and ability to follow through on projects.

• Knowledgeable on legal regulations: plagiarism, crediting sources, copyrights and trademark laws.

• Command of MS suite of office software and graphic design software (Quark Xpress and PhotoShop).

• Understanding of advertising and marketing.

• Ability to research and analyze information to extract relevant data.

• Ability to build contacts to maintain a steady flow of news, eg the police and emergency services, local council, community organisations, health, etc.

• Interviewing people affected by or involved in making political decisions, eg school closures, hospital reorganisation.

• Reporting on business developments or events of cultural interest in the community.

• Interviewing people experiencing distress, trauma or celebrity success, eg bereaved relatives, 'triumph over tragedy' survivors, winners, losers.

• Attending press conferences.

• Attending local meetings, court proceedings and events, eg council meetings, the magistrates' court, football matches.

• Recording interviews and meetings using shorthand or recording equipment.

• Producing copy to deadlines - there may be several each day.

• Writing 'fillers' or articles to entertain.

• Researching and writing longer feature articles.

• Working with photographers and editors to produce copy to Cairns Community Newspapers Pty Ltd style.

• Ability to sit for long periods of time.

• Flexibility in scheduling projects and meeting deadlines.

• Attention to detail.

• Prioritisation skills.

• Excellent time management skills.