The Age is seeking a Melbourne property reporter to cover local and national property markets. The role involves explaining market fluctuations to an engaged audience, interviewing various stakeholders from first-time buyers to economists, and covering prestige property, auctions, and trends. The ideal candidate will be curious, thoughtful, diligent, with excellent writing skills and the ability to meet deadlines, often working with large data sets.

Must Have

• Reporting on the property market in Melbourne and Victoria
• Pitching original ideas on house price changes, buying/selling trends, best suburbs
• Reporting on the national property market, including economist predictions and interest rate impacts
• Covering Melbourne’s prestige property market, including breaking news and trend stories
• Covering Melbourne’s auction market, including on-the-ground coverage
• Using large data sets to generate ideas or back up tips with accuracy and clarity
• Working to breaking, daily, and weekend deadlines, independently or in a team
• Developing and maintaining relationships with key contacts
• Proven journalism experience
• Sparkling copy and ability to write hard and soft leads to deadline
• Strong command of material or ability to learn quickly for complex stories
• Strong news judgement and ability to problem-solve and work independently
• Excellent attention to detail

Good to Have

• A keen interest in the property market
• Previous property reporting experience
• A degree of familiarity with Melbourne’s geography and culture
• Established contacts in the round

Perks & Benefits

• 18 weeks paid parental leave with no distinction between primary and secondary carers
• Access to 'Employee Exclusives' program
• Digital newspaper subscription to our mastheads
• Annual gift voucher for Stan subscription
• Flexible work options (flexible hours, hybrid work, or part-time arrangements)

Company Description

The Age has been Victoria's most widely-read masthead for 170 years. Reaching millions of readers each month with top-quality journalism across politics, sport, business, and culture. By joining our diverse and passionate team, you will drive innovation and contribute to shaping the future of journalism while honoring our rich history in Australia's most advanced newsroom.

Job Description

The Age is looking for a Melbourne property reporter to cover the local and national property market.

The ideal candidate takes a keen interest in the state of the housing market and will be able to explain its ups and downs to a highly engaged audience.

Reporting to the national property editor, you will be at home speaking to everyone from first home buyers to senior bank economists and trophy home selling agents.

We're looking for someone curious, thoughtful and diligent, with excellent copy and the ability to hit deadlines.

Day to day you will be:

• Reporting on the property market in Melbourne and Victoria, and pitching original ideas on everything from house price changes to buying and selling trends or the best suburbs for homebuyers
• Reporting on the national property market, including economist predictions and what interest rate moves mean for property prices
• Covering Melbourne’s prestige property market, including breaking news of significant sales and listings, as well as broader trend stories
• Covering Melbourne’s auction market, including our on-the-ground Saturday auction coverage and trend stories about the state of the auction market
• Using large data sets to generate ideas or back up tips, and working with data with a high degree of accuracy and clarity
• Working to breaking, daily and weekend deadlines, independently or in a team
• Developing and maintaining relationships with a wide variety of key contacts.

This is a 6-month contract position and some Saturday shifts are required.

Qualifications

What you'll bring:

• A keen interest in the property market. Previous property reporting experience is advantageous but not essential
• Proven journalism experience
• Sparkling copy and an ability to write hard and soft leads as required, to deadline
• A strong command of the material, or an ability to learn it quickly, that enables you to write stories with complexity and depth
• A degree of familiarity with Melbourne’s geography and culture, or a willingness to learn fast
• Established contacts in the round, or skills in building new relationships with contacts
• Plenty of ideas and strong news judgement, plus an ability to problem-solve and work independently
• Excellent attention to detail.

Additional Information

Nine is Australia’s largest locally owned media company. Working at Nine, you’ll have access to a unique range of experiences and opportunities, helping drive the success of the country’s most trusted television, radio, digital and publishing brands.

Our content reaches almost every Australian - meaning what we do has real impact. We bring people together, celebrate the big moments, and capture the everyday ones.

Some of our most beloved brands have been part of Australian life for generations, and others - new on the scene - have already found their place firmly in our lives. We’re evolving and we need people like you to bring new ideas, innovate and make your mark.

How we work

At Nine, our flexible work options vary by role and team. Depending on the position, this may include flexible hours, hybrid work, or part-time arrangements. We welcome discussing your flexibility needs during the hiring process - just ask the Talent Acquisition team.

Our employee benefits include:

• 18 weeks paid parental leave with no distinction between primary and secondary carers.
• Access to 'Employee Exclusives' program - a way of getting closer to our incredible brands, offering unique experiences, behind-the-scenes access, and awesome perks.
• Digital newspaper subscription to our mastheads.
• Annual gift voucher for Stan subscription.

More info at Nine Careers.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

We're committed to a safe, respectful and inclusive Nine. From day one, you'll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work and will be supported to perform at your best.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, and of all ages, genders, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures as we recognise the importance and value of diverse perspectives. Should you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please advise us when you apply.

Work rights: Please note to apply for this role you must already have the right to lawfully work and live in Australia.