[Hiring] Politics Trending Reporter @USA TODAY Co.

Role Description

USA TODAY, a digital-first news organization, is seeking a Politics Trending Reporter focused on finding and reporting on daily and breaking stories related to politics that are of interest to USA TODAY audiences.

• Identify and report on timely stories using strong news judgment, trends, metrics, and social tools.
• Coverage can include anything from the latest polls to developments in Congress and monitoring government briefings.
• Work calmly under tight deadlines, deliver scoops, write quickly, make phone calls, dig up documents, and think creatively about storytelling.
• Comfortable with live blogs, quick enterprise stories, and excel at SEO.
• Collaborate regularly with reporters and editors across the USA TODAY Network.
• Position demands initiative, accuracy, urgency, and insight.
• This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska, Hawaii, and Wyoming.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in journalism or any other subject or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2 years' reporting/newsroom experience.
• Able to file quickly and accurately.
• Strong command of grammar and style.
• Passionate and enthusiastic about breaking news and covering high-interest topics of the day.
• Comfortable in fluid, fast-moving, intense situations and using social media to enhance reporting.
• Understand reporting and sourcing ethics.
• Excel in a fast-paced news environment and understand the digital-first mission.
• Collaborate well with others and can work with a team, including remote colleagues.
• Facility with AI and automation and experience in using it to enhance journalism.

Requirements

• Identify and report on top national politics stories of the day and monitor real-time news.
• Write and report quickly and accurately, chasing down tips and answering readers’ questions.
• Work with coworkers to deliver news via stories, video, newsletters, and social media.
• Use metrics to inform story choices and shape strategies.
• This Politics Trending Reporter works Sunday through Thursday and sometimes helps out on holidays.

Benefits

• Minimum salary: $65,000.
• Hourly rate will range between $25.48 and $39.81, reflective of various factors including market, education, skills, and experience.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

• Your resume – one to two pages.
• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
• Links to 3-6 online samples of your work.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.