KWTV Investigative Reporter

An Investigative Reporter at News 9 helps drive the Ideal Team Player culture.

Job Summary: As an Investigative Reporter, you will dig deep to uncover the stories that others miss, holding the powerful accountable and giving a voice to Oklahomans who need one. You will spend your days chasing records, cultivating sources, and following the facts wherever they lead, then turn that work into clear, compelling reports for broadcast and digital audiences. Working alongside Reporters, Photojournalists, Producers, and news management, you bring persistence, sharp editorial judgment, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy and fairness. Your reporting creates real change in our communities and plays a vital role in keeping Oklahomans safe, informed, and connected.

Job Responsibilities:

- Uncover, research, and report on in-depth investigative stories that hold institutions accountable and matter to people across the OKC/Tulsa metro area and statewide, from government spending and public safety to consumer protection.

- Develop and maintain a strong network of confidential and on-the-record sources, including public officials, community leaders, and subject-matter experts, while protecting source confidentiality. Conduct accountability interviews with professionalism, persistence, and respect.

- File and track Oklahoma Open Records Act and federal FOIA requests; obtain and analyze court filings, public records, financial documents, and databases to identify trends, discrepancies, and story leads.

- Verify every fact through rigorous fact-checking and documentation, and work closely with news management to review stories before broadcast to ensure accuracy and fairness.

- Ability to manage day-turn investigations as well as long term investigative stories.

- Conduct specialty reporting assignments as needed.

- Collaborate with Reporters, Photojournalists, Producers, Editors, and the digital team to build compelling, visually driven long-form reports, multi-part series, and special projects for broadcast, digital, and social platforms.

- Contribute to daily news coverage and breaking news as needed, including reporting live in the field and providing clear updates as stories develop.

- Foster meaningful connections with our audience through social media engagement, community outreach, and participation in public events.

- Uphold journalistic standards, ethics, and best practices in all aspects of reporting and storytelling, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and balance in coverage.

- Perform other job-related duties as assigned, including driving an automobile for company business.

Job Schedule: This is a full-time position primarily working 40 hours per week. You may also be called upon at times to fill in other hours and days of the week to help cover vacations, illnesses, breaking news, severe weather, or special projects/events. This position is not eligible to work remotely.

Qualifications

Essential Qualities:

- Humble: A habit of sharing successes, putting the team first, and working for the good of the team. A we not me attitude. The ability to give and receive constructive criticism. Observe and employ the Golden Rule.

- Hungry: Exhibit a strong work ethic, drive, and willingness to take initiative.

- Smart (People Smart): The virtue of being interpersonally smart about the interactions and relationships of those you encounter.

- Positive Attitude: Exhibited by focusing on opportunities not problems, see the glass as half-full not half-empty.

- Sense of Urgency: How we react and respond.

Skills and Requirements:

- Bachelors degree in Journalism, Communications, or related field preferred. Related experience will be evaluated and may be substituted as years of education.

- 3-5 years of experience in a television newsroom as a Reporter, with demonstrated investigative or enterprise reporting experience, preferred.

- Proven ability to obtain and analyze public records, court documents, and data, including working knowledge of the Oklahoma Open Records Act and FOIA.

- Strong understanding of media law, including defamation, privacy, and source protection, and a commitment to journalistic integrity, accuracy, and ethical standards.

- Exceptional writing, storytelling, and interviewing skills, with a strong on-camera presence and the ability to turn complex information into clear, compelling content.

- Ability to manage long-term projects alongside daily deadlines, working effectively both independently and as part of a team.

- Link of work sample required.

- Must have, or be able to obtain, a valid Oklahoma drivers license and have a driving record acceptable to the company.

- Ability to perform other job-related duties as assigned.

- Capable of handling the physical and mental requirements including:

Ability to verbally communicate in English.

- Ability to read computer monitor information (words and data).

- Ability to hear detailed spoken word.

- Ability to remain sedentary and to travel to work location.

- Ability to perform manual dexterity tasks with hands, fingers.

- Ability to analyze data, concentrate, reason, and write.

- Ability to perform under emotional stress.

- Ability to lift 10 pounds unaided.

- Ability to work rotating shifts and be on 24-hour call.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.