Food Reporter

The Houston Chronicle is seeking a Food Reporter to cover Houston’s vibrant and diverse culinary scene in fresh, innovative ways. This reporter will be plugged into restaurant trends, chefs and the people shaping Houston’s food culture. This reporter should be the first to report breaking news, from major restaurant openings and closings to chef moves, ownership changes and industry developments.

The Food Reporter will create journalism that meets audiences wherever they are, particularly on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other social platforms. This role goes beyond traditional food coverage, combining authoritative reporting with creative storytelling, strong audience instincts and a deep understanding of what makes people want to watch, share, discuss and return for more.

From quick social videos and recurring video series to in-depth stories about Houston’s food scene, this reporter will help define how the Chronicle engages food lovers across the city.

Key responsibilities

• Be first and best in reporting Houston’s food news, including restaurant openings and closures, chef moves, ownership changes, major hires, expansions and insider developments

• Build strong sourcing among chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality workers, industry leaders and food enthusiasts

• Cover restaurant trends, chef profiles, emerging cuisines and the human-centered stories behind the meals, with a focus on what matters to Houston’s diverse communities

• Use social listening, search trends, audience tools and community engagement to identify food conversations and create coverage that resonates

• Develop recurring social video series and franchises for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube and other platforms

• Produce quick reactions, interviews, explainers, behind-the-scenes videos and other social-first storytelling

• Juggle breaking news with longer features, food guides, trend stories and experimental digital formats

• Collaborate closely with food editors, visuals, audience strategists and other newsroom teams to bring stories to life and extend their reach

We’re looking for someone who

• Has at least three years of reporting experience, including at least one year covering food, restaurants, culture, business or a related beat

• Has a strong understanding of Houston’s restaurant scene, chefs, neighborhoods and culinary culture

• Has a proven ability to break news quickly, accurately and ethically

• Is deeply plugged into restaurant and food trends and knows how to spot a story before it becomes widely known

• Has experience creating social video for platforms such as TikTok and Instagram

• Is comfortable on camera and capable of developing engaging video series, interviews, explainers and field reports

• Brings a creative mindset to food coverage and is eager to experiment with formats, visuals and storytelling approaches

• Can balance breaking news with compelling feature reporting that keeps readers and viewers coming back

About the Houston Chronicle:

The Houston Chronicle, recognized for its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houston’s largest websites — HoustonChronicle.com and Chron.com, along with our magazine, television and newspaper brands.  Our mission is to spark conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston.  All our content and the innovative business solutions we provide invite Houstonians to join conversations about a community we’ve been committed to covering and helping prosper for more than 120 years. The community we all call home.

WHAT WE OFFER:

There has never been a more exciting time to join the Houston Chronicle. Our business is growing and transforming every day.  Advertisers are partnering with us to help them navigate new marketing strategies in today’s increasingly complex digital environment. Simply put, the Houston Chronicle is a media company that uses its rich history and data to deliver the most impactful media campaigns for our customers. We leverage our substantial audience reach, coupled with best in class advertising solutions to keep our customer’s brand in front of the right people at the right time.

 Why are we different? Our people! Our company is diverse and filled with smart, passionate people who want to make a difference in their community, regardless of the role they play in the company. We offer an upbeat and collaborative working environment and expect our people to challenge the norm.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate. 

At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.  

Be a part of something bigger – your headline awaits.

Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates, if you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or regarding the application process, please contact us by email at hnpemployment@hearst.com.  Please do not use this email address to inquire about the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.

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