The Post-Gazette, a Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization is hiring a Washington bureau chief to cover the politics and policies of utmost importance and relevance to the Pittsburgh region. We’re looking for an innovative and ambitious reporter to produce quick-turn spot news stories, deeply reported enterprise and insightful analysis with a particular emphasis on our region’s congressional delegation. These are stories framed for Post-Gazette readers who want to know how decisions forged in Washington affect our region. By demystifying the bureaucracy of the nation’s capital, the correspondent will aim to produce stories that hold our government accountable and help Western Pennsylvanians make informed decisions about all facets of their daily lives.
The correspondent covers eight members of Congress — six House members and two senators — and the breadth of the federal bureaucracy. The ideal candidate should be exceptionally self-motivated, know how to develop a beat and cultivate sources in a competitive environment, while also keeping a finger on the pulse of Pittsburgh. This reporter will focus on key policy topics relevant to Pittsburgh — from energy policy to infrastructure, from high tech to the environment — and interact with the established and emerging industries of the region. The ideal candidate will feel comfortable working independently on a sprawling beat that yields a wide variety of daily stories as well as in-depth Sunday enterprise.
The correspondent beat is highly visible and rewarding. The access is the same as with any top national reporter, with a desk in the Senate Press Gallery, a National Press Club membership, and the chance to work in the most powerful city in the world.
You'll join a newsroom that has produced Pulitzer-caliber work in recent years (2019 winner for Breaking News, 2020 finalist for Local Reporting) with a strong reputation for high impact politics coverage in one of America’s primary battleground states.
Candidates should:
- Understand the inner-workings of federal government, national politics and policy making
- Demonstrate the ability to break stories, spot trends for longer-range coverage, and convey contextual meaning to developments on the beat
- Possess the ability to see past the daily noise to spot the news and trends that truly matter to the Pittsburgh region
- Have a proven track record of using social media to inform and engage digital audiences of all kinds
- Possess a positive attitude and ability to collaborate and thrive in high-pressure news environments
- Credibly represent the Post-Gazette at events and on external media channels
- Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in journalism but not a must
- 3 to 7 years of reporting experience, preferably covering politics and/or government affairs
- Strong verbal and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to deliver news on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat
- Strong analytical and strategic planning skills and attention to detail
- Proven experience reporting and writing effectively on deadline
- Exceptional work ethic, time management, and organization skills
Other Things to Know:
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- We encourage everyone to apply who shares our passion for indispensable journalism and our drive to create a sustainable business model to support it
As an equal opportunity employer, the Post-Gazette is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture, and we encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with special needs. Also, we will not hire individuals that use nicotine products, and will conduct a pre-employment screen to test for the use of nicotine products.
