We are looking to add to our reporting team at the Wire, and would love to have your help in finding another scribe to our newsroom.

If you have someone who might be interested in covering the politics, policies and personalities of Washington State, have them take a look at the job description below.

Our compensation is above market, and our mission is more focused than most places you’ll work. So, if you like the work we do at the Wire, we’d love to have a conversation with you!

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State Government & Political Reporter

Since 2010, The Washington State Wire has been one of the primary digital outlets for news and information regarding policy and politics in Washington State. In 2017, the site re-launched with a new approach to content, web design, weekly and daily email newsletters, and the launch of the annual Re-Wire Policy Conference.

We are seeking a reporter ready to cover state government, including the policies, politics and personalities of Washington State. Here’s what that will look like.

Job description: The reporter will cover Washington State policy, state agencies, and legislative activity. This will include reporting on the personalities and people that make state government work, including elected officials, lobbyists, and state agency leadership. 

The reporter will also write occasional stories for our sister site, www.stateofreform.com, focused on state health policy as part of our West Coast Edition.

This position will be based in Washington State with occasional travel throughout the state. Duties for this position include:

• Regular and daily reporting and coverage at WashingtonStateWire.com of news and news releases of about one to three stories per day; with occasional related reporting at StateofReform.com
• Support for the conferences and events sponsored by The Wire, including agenda development, speaker identification and recruitment and other tasks as needed
• Data aggregation and open-source intelligence collection to support online content
• Research of current policy and market activities with a focus on state government, but which will include federal, regional and local government as it relates to state issues
• Support for and coordination of analysis and coverage of daily and weekly newsletters distributed to email readers

Qualifications: This position will require a set of diverse skills and the ability to manage multiple types of projects. Please address how you meet these qualifications in your cover letter.

• 3-5 years of progressively challenging duties within a reporting, news, or political/policy analysis position. This could include writing for clients, for a university newspaper or other comparable position.
• A sophisticated level of awareness and understanding of the issues facing Washington state policy makers today. An understanding of tax/revenue policy, health policy, education or environmental policy would be a plus.
• Experience in and ability to continue to learn in the areas of digital media, social media, data analytics, infographics, etc.
• 4-year college graduate with a degree in journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, business administration, political science, economics, international relations, social science or related field; a related graduate degree is helpful  
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills along with a proven ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• Must be organized and have excellent follow through, a fast learner, be able to handle multiple assignments and enjoy the pressure of a deadline-driven environment.
• Must have advanced problem solving and critical thinking skills. The importance of this piece cannot be overstated.

To Apply: This is a full time position. We offer a broad compensation package, including a competitive salary, health care benefits, retirement benefits, and generous PTO.  

Most importantly, this is a work place where the right candidate will enjoy the challenges offered and a culture in which one can flourish as a person. We are building a new kind of journalism — entrepreneurial and public service oriented — and a new kind of civic reporting. And, we want your help to do it.

If you’d like to apply for a position, please send us your resume, and a cover letter to contact@washingtonstatewire.com. In your cover letter, tell us how you’d add to the team, and why you are a fit with us. Provide writing samples of between 200 and 600 words. Be prepared to offer references during the interview process.

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