Tax & Economic Policy Reporter

CQ Roll Call seeks an energetic and versatile journalist to cover tax and economic policy as part of a team focused on federal budget and fiscal policy coverage. We’re looking for someone who can connect the dots between policies, politics and people. These stories would focus on legislation and policy for congressional, legal and regulatory audiences; nonprofits, academia and the business community.

The job requires knowledge of Congress and the executive branch, particularly the Treasury Department and IRS. The ideal candidate must be able to break news on a competitive beat and write clearly and concisely under tight deadlines. A knack for balancing spot news with unique enterprise that goes beyond daily deadlines is ideal. Teamwork and collaboration skills are essential.

About Reporting At CQ Roll Call

CQ Roll Call is dedicated to providing nonpartisan news, in-depth analysis and legislative tracking about Congress, the administration and federal agencies. CQ, founded in 1945 as Congressional Quarterly, delivers to subscribers actionable intelligence about policy making. Our journalism focuses on how legislation is shaped, key players, motivations driving debate and how the process affects your interests. Roll Call, founded in 1955, is known for its objective coverage of the people, politics, and personalities of Capitol Hill. We have more than 40 print and online products -- including a digital magazine, topic-specific newsletters, transcripts, government documents, and committee and floor votes -- that keep readers updated on daily, weekly and real-time basis.

All applicants must submit 5 writing samples published in newspapers, news websites or news magazines. These samples can be provided below by uploading PDF documents or sharing direct links to the work.

A timed writing test and a test of congressional knowledge are required to advance to interviews with the team. This will be something we will share during the process.

What To Expect In This Role

Filing daily stories about tax and economic policy focused on legislative, regulatory and presidential actions, written smartly and with clarity.
Legislative tracking, including coverage of congressional committee markups and vote entry.
Continual source-building in the halls of Congress, within federal agencies and among advocacy and interest groups, including the business and lobbying community.
A fast-paced, subscriber-focused newsroom where stories are told via two websites, a newspaper that publishes when Congress is in session, newsletters in front of and behind a paywall, and policy-oriented podcasts.
Participation in company-sponsored webinars and events.
Proficiency about the operations of Congress, the White House, federal agencies and politics. You should be equally comfortable analyzing the provisions of a bill while covering a markup, digging into how taxpayer dollars are spent and raised, and explaining why an action by Congress or the administration is important to a sophisticated audience primarily that relies on news and analysis to do their jobs.
Working as part of a team to collaborate on fast-moving stories of the day on Capitol Hill, including the federal appropriations process.

What Sets You Apart

3+ years of experience covering Congress, federal agencies or a state legislature for news organizations. Congressional experience is strongly recommended, as well as experience covering tax and economic policy.
Ability to write concise, sharp and engaging copy under deadline pressure.
Ability to provide context behind tax policy and illustrate its impact on the people and industries affected by it.
Strong source development, beyond the typical agency or committee spokesperson.
Narrative storytelling skills that can help tie Washington policy to communities outside the Beltway.
Familiarity with and ability to mine campaign finance and lobbying records for stories of interest to stakeholders on and off Capitol Hill.
Ability to create and manipulate data sets that we can use to highlight trends and create a narrative around.
An interest in and desire to look for stories that tie together policymaking and the parochial and political interests driving lawmakers.
Willingness to supplement your digital and print stories with audio, video and other multimedia elements.
A collaborative and collegial disposition.