Job Description

Strengthening and empowering all of the communities we serve.

LehighValleyLive.com is seeking someone who treats a plate of Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast scrapple with the same respect as a rare caviar, considers an announcement of a local restaurant opening or a farm stand closing a matter of urgent breaking news, and revels in sharing insights about food both in front of a camera and through the keyboard. Our ideal Eastern Pennsylvania Food & Dining Reporter will become a go-to source for restaurant news, and a tour guide for anyone venturing outside of Philadelphia to the agriculturally-rich communities that were doing farm-to-table long before it was a big-city buzzword.

They’ll develop trust across these communities and grow their audience on multiple social platforms as they find the places – from hidden gems to institutions recognized across generations – where food, drink and culture are binding folks of all backgrounds together.

We’re based in Easton, one of the three dynamic cities that anchor the rapidly growing Lehigh Valley, but are seeking coverage that goes deeper into Pennsylvania, as far west as Lancaster, where a burgeoning food scene is drawing attention from international culinary institutions while also serving as a base for eclectic start-ups. If driving 90 minutes down rural backroads to try an empanada from a food truck that’s suddenly the talk of a town is your idea of a good time, we want to hear from you.

The base salary range is $50,000-$56,000 a year. This position requires reliable transportation to meet with sources and cover events.

What You'll Do:

• Serve as a leading authority on the dining, food and beverage industry in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding parts of eastern Pennsylvania.
• Break stories on openings and closings of restaurants and adjacent businesses, including bars, cafes, microbreweries, distilleries, organic farms, butchers, local markets, and specialty shops.
• Build and maintain relationships with chefs, restaurateurs, tourism leaders, farmers, artisans, local chambers of commerce, business associations and hospitality professionals.
• Attend tastings, openings, festivals, and industry events to identify stories before they become mainstream.
• Provide expert commentary and recommendations for audiences seeking trusted guidance on where to explore local culture through food and drink.
• Develop destination guides, rankings, features, and trend analyses that showcase eastern Pennsylvania’s unique culture.
• Deliver insightful reporting that balances enthusiastic storytelling with journalistic integrity and expert knowledge.

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Degree in Journalism or Communications or related field, or an equivalen combination of education and experience
• Minimum 2 years’ journalism experience with a proven ability in reporting and writing, preferably including experience with food and dining
• A natural curiosity and enthusiasm for discovering and understanding a wide variety of foods, flavors, and cultural traditions
• Proven ability to source, report and break news on a busy local food scene
• Comfort working across written, visual and audio platforms
• Experience utilizing a variety of social media platforms, with on-camera presence a plus
• Comfort and enthusiasm for using AI tools in a professional workflow to improve efficiency
• Experience building, maintaining and engaging an active audience
• Ability to work independently under deadline pressure and prioritize tasks appropriately
• Demonstrated capability in capitalizing on high-value topics by engaging audiences in frequency and urgency
• Understanding of how to leverage relationships with sources to deliver content that differentiates the organization from competitors

Additional Information

Advance Local Media offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package with affordable options for your healthcare including medical, dental and vision plans, mental health support options, flexible spending accounts, fertility assistance, a competitive 401(k) plan to help plan for your future, generous paid time off, paid parental and caregiver leave and an employee assistance program to support your work/life balance, optional legal assistance, life insurance options, as well as flexible holidays to honor cultural diversity.

PA Media Group is a part of Advance Local Media, one of the largest media groups in the United States, which operates the leading news and information companies in more than 20 cities, reaching 52+ million people monthly with our quality, real-time journalism and community engagement. Our company is built upon the values of Integrity, Customer-first, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Forward-looking. For more information about Advance Local, please visit www.advancelocal.com.

PA Media Group is a digitally focused news and information company which publishes and operates PennLive, The Patriot News and a growing suite of digital and print products. The Pulitzer Prize winning Patriot-News has been serving the communities and people of central Pennsylvania since 1854. PA Media Group is committed to being the most comprehensive, in-depth source of news and information for readers throughout the state.

Advance Local Media is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Advance Local Media does not provide sponsorship for work visas or employment authorization in the United States. Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. will be considered for this position.