Government Reporter

Description:

Job Overview

The Ledger-Enquirer is looking for a government reporter to help our readers understand the decisions, debates and public institutions shaping life across the Chattahoochee Valley.

The government reporter will be expected to generate deeply sourced journalism about local government and public policy, highlighting the impact of civic decisions on Muscogee County-area residents.

It is also a visibility job. The government reporter will be a recognizable, trusted presence at public meetings, in the community and across digital platforms where readers follow local news.

The goal is journalism that makes local government more understandable, more accountable and more relevant to the people we serve.

Responsibilities and Priorities

• Original Reporting
• Report, write and publish coverage of local government, public agencies and civic institutions across the Chattahoochee Valley.
• Cover city and county governments, politics, elections, public safety other policy issues that affect residents.
• Explain what government decisions mean for people in practical, accessible terms, not simply what happened at a meeting or announced in a news release.
• Develop enterprise and accountability stories through public records, data, documents, source development and persistent follow-up.
• Build a reliable pipeline of story ideas from community conversations, public agendas, records, social listening and reader questions.
• Maintain accurate, fair and well-documented reporting under deadline.

Source Development and Community Presence

• Build and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, public employees, civic leaders, advocates, community organizations and residents.
• Attend public meetings and community events consistently enough to understand the people, institutions and issues.
• Represent the Ledger-Enquirer as an approachable, fair and credible presence in the community.
• Participate in community engagement events (in-person and digital).
• Seek diverse voices that are often missing from official proceedings and government coverage.

Digital Storytelling

• Publish timely updates, explainers, live coverage and follow-ups across the Ledger-Enquirer’s digital platforms.
• Produce short-form video, photo storytelling, newsletters or other platform-native content when the story calls for it.
• Write compelling headlines, search-friendly framing and clear presentation to help important local reporting reach readers.
• Collaborate with editors and newsroom colleagues to determine the right format, timing and audience strategy for each story.
• Engage constructively with readers and use audience questions to inform future coverage without sacrificing journalistic independence.

Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated reporting and writing experience, with a portfolio showing journalism, strong sourcing and accuracy.

• The ability to understand complex civic issues and explain them clearly to a broad local audience.
• Comfortable working independently, developing sources and pursuing stories that require persistence.
• Strong news judgment, organizational skills and deadline discipline.
• The ability to attend public meetings and community events, ask informed questions and build trust with people across differing perspectives.
• A commitment to fairness, transparency, accountability and ethical journalism.
• A clear plan to build a working knowledge of the Columbus, GA, area and the Chattahoochee Valley, if unfamiliar.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience covering local government, public policy, education, courts, public safety or accountability journalism.
• Familiarity with public records requests, government documents, budgets, data reporting or investigative reporting techniques.
• Experience producing newsletters, short-form video, audio or other digital journalism products.
• Familiarity with digital publishing systems, SEO basics, social platforms and audience analytics.
• Established relationships with local government, civic or community sources.

About the Ledger-Enquirer

The Ledger-Enquirer serves Columbus, Georgia, and the surrounding Chattahoochee Valley with local journalism that is real and relevant. We are committed to reporting that reflects the full range of experiences across the region.

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Columbus, GA 31901