Freelance Investigative Reporter

The Austin Bulldog is a 14-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit for investigative reporting in the public interest.

I'm looking for a freelance investigative reporter who lives in Austin or a close-in suburb to collaborate with me (founder, editor and publisher) on investigative projects that hold local government agencies and local government officials accountable.

Given that 2024 is an election year for Austin's mayor and five council positions, the freelancer hired will be expected to help provide election coverage by attending political events such as candidate fundraising and candidate debates hosted by political clubs and civic organizations. To that end the reporter will need to have personal transportation.

The ideal candidate will have investigative reporting experience in covering local government and elected officials and familiarity with Austin's city government and other local government agencies such as Travis County, Central Health, Austin Transit Partnership.

If lacking in investigative reporting experience a candidate must have good basic reporting skills, evidenced by published clips of past work, and a strong desire to learn investigative reporting by collaborating with an experienced professional editor with decades of experience.

To get a sense of the kind of work we do, visit the website and study the stories already published, particularly investigative pieces (in main navigation, go to the Categories menu and pull down to select Investigative).

The person hired must be able to work on specific investigative reporting projects as assigned but may also generate ideas for investigative projects that have the earmarks for successful execution to produce work fit for publishing. Every investigative project will include an intensive, collaborative editing process that results in bulletproof reporting that makes an impact.

Payment is negotiable on either a per-project flat fee or an hourly rate in the range of $25-$30 an hour, depending on experience, payable immediately upon completion of a publishable assignment.