Food Reporter - Houston Chronicle
Full-Time • Houston, TX
Description
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 customers’ 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.
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