Politics Editor

Job Description

The Texas Tribune, the state’s go-to source for Texas political news, is seeking a full-time Politics Editor. The Politics Editor will directly manage the newsroom’s politics desk, assigning, approving and editing stories.

In collaboration with the Tribune’s managing editor for enterprise and politics, the Politics Editor will oversee an award-winning team of tenacious reporters whose mission is to serve as watchdogs for the state’s most prominent elected officials, demonstrating smart accountability reporting through a combination of daily news stories, analysis, enterprise, explainers, investigations and feature stories.

The Politics Editor will define how the newsroom approaches campaigns and elections, take a leading role over the state legislative sessions, and work across the newsroom to help translate the impact of the political and legislative processes in Austin and Washington on Texans of all ages, races and backgrounds.

In a moment in which Texas politicians dominate statewide and national headlines, the Politics Editor will be expected to demonstrate or quickly develop a deep expertise in and curiosity about the government and people of Texas.

The Politics Editor will report to the Tribune’s managing editor for enterprise and politics.

Compensation will depend on experience; the minimum annual salary is $90,000. 

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of full-time reporters including Texas-based political reporters, a Washington, D.C.,-based congressional reporter and a newsletter reporter.
• Think big picture about our priorities and resources to ensure that our coverage includes a strong mix of accountability journalism, features, and ground-up reporting on the people and movements that shape and are affected by the political discourse.
• Set the vision for our must-read and widely respected politics newsletter for political insiders and other relevant news products.
• Collaborate with the Tribune’s data and product teams on election results, campaign finance analyses and the Elected Officials Directory.
• Collaborate with colleagues on the editing desk, assigning, editing or reporting stories on other beats as needed.
• Collaborate with the audience team to expand our reach, working to get our reporting in front of broader and targeted audiences.
• As part of the editing team, assign and participate in panel discussions for Tribune events and the annual Texas Tribune Festival, which has attracted speakers including John Cornyn and Hillary Clinton.
• Participate in radio and television hits with our media partners.
• All reporters and editors at The Texas Tribune are responsible for occasional evening, weekend and holiday work, as well as general assignment editing shifts as news demands.

Qualifications

• Experience guiding and coaching reporters and editing stories
• An interest in political journalism
• Strong time-management and interpersonal management skills
• A demonstrated ability to work under tight deadlines
• A deep commitment to and enthusiasm for both breaking news and enterprise reporting
• Evidence of strong reporting, fact-checking and writing skills and a firm grasp of AP style
• A demonstrated ability to manage a talented and ambitious team, coaching and helping develop reporters with varying levels of experience
• Strong familiarity with journalistic ethics and libel law
• A clear desire and proven ability to collaborate with other colleagues across the organization
• Experience and a deep knowledge of Texas politics and government is preferred, but not mandatory.

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

This position is based in the Tribune’s downtown Austin office, steps away from the Texas Capitol.

Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position and includes 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
• Remote working flexibility

How to Apply

Submit your application here by Dec. 18. Along with a résumé and cover letter, please submit a memo detailing your vision for this position and how you would approach the work. 

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. We can't wait to hear from you.

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 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.

Learn more about the Tribune here.

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