City Hall Reporter

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is hiring a City Hall Reporter to cover local government as part of our Politics team. As a member of our Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom, you will lead coverage that focuses on the way politics and the political process in Seattle and beyond affects lives here, in King County, the region and our state. Ideally, you are a skilled reporter who can develop deep sourcing, break news, analyze trends and serve as a watchdog while covering City Hall, including the Seattle mayor’s office, city council and public agencies. 

 We’re looking for someone who can pivot from spot news, enterprise and news features to political analysis and accountability stories. Please be adept at deciphering the real-life impacts of governmental actions and policies and deftly weaving narratives that explain them to our diverse audience. The ideal candidate for City Hall reporter must be capable of handling a mix of daily beat coverage and longer-term enterprise.

Please note: this position is subject to grant renewal. While renewal is anticipated, funding for this role is not guaranteed. As such, this role is considered to be a limited work assignment slated for approximately three years.

The City Hall reporter will:

• Develop diverse and knowledgeable sources who will help them break news and add context and perspective to coverage.
• Post breaking news stories for our website and social media, quickly followed by updates that add more detail and context.
• Identify stories that will drive readership, using social media, callouts, audience analytics.
• Write clear, focused stories with a variety of approaches. We seek stories that are locally focused but could have national appeal.
• Be immersed in Seattle’s elections to fully understand the issues, climate, personalities and voters.
• Work with a team led by an Assistant Metro Editor/Politics Editor, and collaborate with beat reporters on other teams and our specialty reporting Labs that cover education, transportation and homelessness.
• Work with colleagues in Photo, Graphics/Interactives and the Digital Audience Team to coordinate visuals and digital assets for stories.
• The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic colleague and a champion of our core values of accuracy, journalistic ethics and inclusiveness.

Qualifications

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives in your cover letter.

• Experience: At least three years’ work as a reporter for a newsgathering organization.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience.

• Experience covering breaking news and filing from the field, including writing quick, accurate posts that are followed by more complete stories that provide necessary context and perspective.
• Experience in watchdog and accountability journalism.
• Collaborative spirit; diplomacy when communicating up, down and across teams.
• Ability to file public-record requests and search databases.

• Strong command of standards, ethics and mission of journalism at The Seattle Times, regardless of platform.
• Ability to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., under pressure and on deadline.
• Cultural competence and awareness of best practices related to inclusive journalism.
• Ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively on multiple platforms and social networks.
• Experience in traditional, shoe-leather reporting, as well as using social media to find and source stories. Familiarity with digital news production, live blogging, and analytics are also a necessity.

This position requires you to join a union and pay ongoing union dues each month. In addition, you will be required to undergo a drug screen for controlled substances (including marijuana) and a criminal background check once an offer has been made.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, independent newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. As the largest newsroom in the Pacific Northwest, we serve the region with thoughtful journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, Seattle Times Media Solutions combines cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you’ll find work that matters.

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