Q&A with Rhema Thompson Bland of McClatchy
'Consider your application as a case for your hire before the court,' she says
A big thank you goes out to Rhema Thompson Bland, Deputy Director of News Talent Acquisition & Development for McClatchy, for her thoughtful answers to a few questions about what it’s like to work at the publishing company with newsrooms across the country.
What advice would you share with those who aspire to work for McClatchy?
Serious local journalism is and has always been at the heart of what we’re about here. We own local publications throughout the country. And many times the impact of the stories they produce span well beyond the confines of city or state lines, which is a testament to our hardworking reporters and editors. But at the end of the day, what we’re looking for are folks who understand and value the craft of doing really good community journalism — that means an aptitude for accountability reporting, the persistence to push through information roadblocks, the discipline to do thorough sourcing and investigating, the ethics and empathy to present accurate, responsible coverage, and the technical prowess to share those stories in innovative and engaging ways. So my advice to those aspiring to work within our newsrooms is to come with a sincere passion for community coverage, but also, come with the discipline to tell the stories of a community comprehensively and responsibly.