The Texas Tribune is seeking an Economy and Industry Reporter to cover the socioeconomic and political forces that impact Texans’ pocketbooks and upward mobility.

This reporter will focus on the ways in which the state and private industry interact, and how those interactions affect Texas residents and communities. They’ll highlight job growth, emerging industries and those in decline, the people and communities experiencing gains and losses, and how government regulations — or lack thereof — affect different industries. They will monitor the state’s electricity grid and its ability to continue providing enough power to a growing state, monitor various economic data, profile influential power brokers and how corporate money flows to politicians, expose economic inequities and the persistent financial difficulties facing many residents of a vast, diverse state. Their reporting will chronicle how Texas has become an economic powerhouse, but not lose sight of the people left behind. 

There are plenty of great stories to tell at the intersection of politics, policy and the economy in a state that would have the 10th-largest economy in the world if it were its own country. We’re looking for an energetic, organized and visionary reporter who can produce a mix of journalism — guides, pieces that are rich with data visuals, breaking stories, quick-turn enterprise and long-term projects. It’s a job well suited for someone who can see the stories behind numbers while also thinking about creative ways to make their findings accessible to broad audiences. 

This beat intersects with several other coverage areas — including urban affairs, education, politics, regions and health care. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to collaborate with other front-line journalists and across newsroom teams. 

The Economy and Industry Reporter will actively participate in the Tribune’s live journalism events and represent the newsroom in broadcast media appearances under the guidance of the Marketing and Communications team. Collaborating with our Audience team is essential to ensure that our journalism reaches a wide and engaged readership beyond our website. This involves promoting stories on social media platforms, creating scripts for social videos, and participating in various off-platform initiatives such as newsletters, podcasts, and live events. Additionally, team members may engage directly with readers by answering questions, providing context on developing political stories, or highlighting key takeaways from in-depth reporting.

This role reports to the Environment, Energy and Immigration Editor. This reporter’s day-to-day and long-term priorities will be informed by the priorities of the Tribune’s newsroom leadership, and they will receive support, coaching and guidance from their supervising editor. 

The salary for this position will vary according to experience; the minimum is $60,000.

Responsibilities

• Write accurate, clear and well-reported stories on deadline
• Identify and pitch stories on key Texas economy and economic policy topics
• Balance news coverage with deeply reported enterprise stories
• Work with other reporters and teams throughout the newsroom on various assignments
• Occasional travel and work on nights, weekends and holidays
• Collaborate with visual, data and audience teams for storytelling
• Occasionally moderate live panels with newsmakers for our events

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree
• 2+ years of relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is preferred
• A passion and talent for jumping on quick-turn enterprise writing
• A demonstrated ability to work quickly and under tight deadlines
• A deep commitment to and enthusiasm for both breaking news and enterprise reporting
• A clear desire and proven ability to collaborate with other colleagues across the organization
• A strong sense and devotion to journalistic ethics and libel law.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills using AP style 
• Ability to research and fact-check information on your own using excellent writing, reviewing, and editing skills

We know some great candidates won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Location

The Texas Tribune office is located in downtown Austin, steps away from the Texas Capitol. We prefer this position to be based in Austin or Houston, but we will consider journalists who are based elsewhere in Texas. 

Benefits

This job is full time and has the following benefits:

• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• A cellphone stipend
• 20 days of paid time off each year
• Up to 16 weeks of paid family leave plus four weeks of additional job protection
• 401(k) matching
• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences
• Remote working flexibility

How to Apply

Submit your application here by April 7 with a resume, examples of your work and a cover letter detailing your vision and how you would approach the work. We can't wait to hear from you.

The Texas Tribune is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for all, and we encourage applicants of all identities, backgrounds, ages, and abilities to apply.

About The Texas Tribune

Here’s what you should know about the Tribune. From day one, we’ve had disruption, innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. We’re ambitious as all get out but still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. We believe we can meet the demands of our audience and our own expectations for excellence without breaking the bank — or our staff. We understand not everything is a story for us — we have to make choices — but we’re always looking to expand our boundaries. 

We’re nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for media these days obligates us to find a different way, reliable and sustainable, to fund serious journalism. We’re nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias — and we don’t need to be part of the problem. We don’t need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives that are already in people’s heads. At the same time, nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called.

The Texas Tribune seeks to ensure that its newsroom and its news coverage reflect Texas by including a wide range of perspectives from people of different backgrounds, ideologies and experiences.

 Learn more about The Texas Tribune here.

About The Texas Tribune

Here’s what you should know about the Tribune. From day one we’ve had disruption, innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. We’re ambitious as all get out but still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. Fifteen years ago, The Texas Tribune reinvented the business model for public service journalism. We are always looking to expand our boundaries. We’re nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for the media these days obligates us to find a different way, reliable and sustainable, to fund serious journalism. We’re nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias — and we don’t need to be part of the problem. At the same time, nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called. All of us at the Trib believe the best way to achieve that mission is to resemble the state we cover. We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we’re taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this role, including women, veterans, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities.

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