Maine Politics Reporter

Date Posted	September 03, 2026
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Not Specified
Remote / Telecommute	Hybrid
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	$28.75 to $29.75/hour

Description:

The Portland Press Herald, Maine's largest news organization, is looking for an outstanding journalist to cover statewide politics and policy, including the local impacts of federal policy decisions. 

Maine is about to go through a major election that could determine the fate of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. In a cycle where billions of dollars will be spent on campaigns, Maine’s Senate race might be the highest profile in the country. 

If that’s not enough intrigue, voters — many of whom are dissatisfied with the direction of the increasingly unaffordable state — are also picking a new governor. Our team will cover the new administration from the ground floor. 

The top candidate for this position will have experience using public documents, data and cultivating interesting sources to tell important stories. They must be deeply tuned in to local and national political topics and their impact on our readers.

We need a self-motivated reporter who can break news, and deliver compelling narratives and accountability journalism. This reporter should be able to adapt quickly and deliver work that tells our readers what they need to know and why it matters to them. 

Successful candidates should have clips that demonstrate proficiency working with digital platforms, an understanding of reader engagement metrics, public records requests and other documents. We need a reporter who is aggressive but not arrogant, who is confident but works collaboratively with editors and other staff. You also must be comfortable in a digital-first environment that prioritizes reader interests.

Submit a resume, three clips and a cover letter to editor Kirby Wilson at kwilson@metln.org and managing editor Julia Arenstam at jarenstam@pressherald.com. 

This position is paid $28.75 to $29.75/hour.  

We also offer:

• Health, dental and vision insurance

• Short/long-term disability and life insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• 401k with company match

We are an EEO employer.

The Portland Press Herald is part of the Maine Trust for Local News, the state’s largest news organization, covering communities across eight counties in southern, western and central Maine in addition to statewide journalists reporting on state politics, housing, health, culture, education, environment and more. With a newsroom of 120 people, we serve audiences through our daily, weekly, and bi-monthly newspapers, and topic-based and hyper-local newsletters, both online and in print. The Maine Trust for Local News is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Local News, a nonprofit committed to conserving and operating vibrant, sustainable local news enterprises across the country.