State Government and Politics Reporter-Lincoln, NE

Date Posted	October 29, 2025
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Not Specified
Job Status	Not Specified
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

State Government and Politics Reporter-Lincoln, NE

The Lincoln Journal Star is seeking an experienced reporter and strong writer to lead our coverage of state government and politics in Nebraska’s capital city. 

Monitoring the activities of Nebraska’s unique unicameral Legislature, governor, state departments and keeping tabs on state politics and elections will be a key part of this demanding beat. At the Capitol, you will be part of a two-person team, working with a veteran reporter. 

Your journalism will help ensure the Journal Star holds officials accountable and explains how politicians and their decisions affect our readers’ lives. The ideal candidate will have a least two years of professional experience in a daily news operation. We value strong enterprise, watchdog reporting, as well as creative storytelling. 

Key responsibilities:

• Develop a diverse network of sources to deliver a steady stream of stories, scoops and coverage that readers can’t find anywhere else.
• Make open records requests to investigate the activities of state government agencies and policymakers and to shed light on what Nebraska's government is doing in taxpayers' name and with their dollars.
• Balance planning for both short-term and long-term story deadlines and be nimble about shifting priorities as needed.
• Produce sharp and concise writing that engages readers and follows AP Style.
• Analyze public data and documents, such as state budgets, department reports and legislative proposals, to find story ideas or to provide readers with more context.
• Work at our office and at the Capitol, typically during the daytime on weekdays. Some work at night or on weekends may be required.

Required skills/experience:

• Commitment to journalism that pursues stories with an open mind.
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field. 
• Experience using social media, audience metrics or other tools to inform coverage.
• Experience with writing tools, such as Google Documents or Microsoft Word, and data analysis tools, such as Google Spreadsheets or Microsoft Excel.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.

Why join us?

Lincoln provides cultural, entertainment and recreational opportunities befitting of a state capital that doubles as home to the University of Nebraska’s flagship campus, where Husker sports are a major source of pride and community identity. The city is diverse and boasts a low cost of living. The downtown Haymarket entertainment district is anchored by Pinnacle Bank Arena which, along with the world-class Lied Center, hosts major concerts and shows. Our new office, with a state-of-art production studio, sits on one of state’s best-interconnected hiking/biking trails. 

If you are looking to join an amazing, talented, collaborative news team, we encourage you to apply!  Please be sure to upload a resume, cover letter and up to three clips with your application.

Why Lee?

Lee Enterprises offers competitive wages in a dynamic, interesting work environment with career growth opportunities.  We offer an extensive benefit program that can be personalized to your needs which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, company provided life insurance and supplemental life insurance. In addition, we offer a 401K retirement plan with company match.  We also offer generous paid time off to allow flexibility to balance personal life and work.  This includes paid parental leave for new parents.

Lee Enterprises is a major subscription and advertising platform and a leading provider of local news and information, with daily newspapers, rapidly growing digital products and nearly 350 weekly and specialty publications serving 75 markets in 26 states. Year to date, Lee's newspapers have an average daily circulation of 1.0 million, and our legacy websites, including acquisitions, reach more than 34 million digital unique visitors.

Lee Enterprises is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we participate in E-Verify. We are committed to attracting and retaining a workforce whose diversity reflects the communities we serve. Lee embraces change, and we recognize that we must create and maintain a culture of fervent inclusion. For more information about Lee, check us out at www.lee.net.

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