Senior Reporter

Description:

Job Description for Senior Statehouse Reporter, Kansas

Overview

State Affairs, a national, digital news site reporting on state legislatures around the country, is in search of an experienced journalist to cover critical news and policy coming out of the state capital in Topeka, Kansas.

The successful candidate is expected to move into the managing editor role in 2024. The managing editor role currently has no direct reports.

About the position

We seek a full-time journalist with significant reporting and writing experience who can produce well-thought out dailies and enterprise stories on the inner workings of state government, state government agencies, policy makers and other movers and shakers. This journalist is also able to turn around a well-written and reported story on a tight deadline.

The Senior Reporter will work closely with the veteran journalists Vickie and Martin Hawver, founders of Hawver’s Capitol Report, which is now part of the State Affairs family. 

The candidate will, among other things, arrange interviews with government officials and others who can provide information about stories; review copy and correct errors in content, grammar and punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines; determine a story’s emphasis, length and format, and organize material accordingly; research and analyze background information related to news stories to be able to provide complete and accurate information; gather information about events through research, interviews, experience or attendance at political, social or other functions; and pitch stories to editors that are relevant to the local community.

This position is NOT remote. The candidate will work most days out of the Topeka, Kansas, Statehouse. Candidates not in Topeka or the surrounding area must be willing to relocate to the area.

State Affairs offers health insurance and a generous vacation policy. The salary for this position is $57,500 to $62,500 annually based on experience.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Ability to meet deadline

• Clean writer

• Persistent

• Pays attention to detail

• Research skills

• Strong reporting skills

• Familiarity with data-based reporting

• Investigative reporting skills a plus

• Digital literacy and familiarity with multimedia platforms and methods

• Logistical reasoning and objectivity

• Familiar with Associated Press style

• Adhere to journalism code of ethics 

• Strong project management and project planning skills

• Demonstrated team leadership experience 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with people of all backgrounds

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or related field preferred

• Five years of experience as a reporter or editor; government reporting preferred 

Join our mission

State Affairs is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. 

How to apply

Send a cover letter and resume with at least three writing samples to Alison Bethel, editor-in-chief, at alison@stateaffairs.com. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.