Health & Housing Reporter

The Virginia Mercury, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom covering Virginia government, policy and politics, is seeking a health and housing reporter to join its staff.

The Virginia Mercury is a team of veteran Virginia reporters dedicated to the mission of relentless journalism that sheds light on how decisions are made in Richmond and how they affect individuals, families and communities across the Old Dominion.

The health and housing reporter will be based in Richmond and report to the editor in chief. The reporter will cover health in the commonwealth, including the accessibility and affordability of health care, health disparities and issues related to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of Virginians. Concurrently, the reporter will cover issues including affordability and other challenges Virginia residents face buying or renting homes, as well as legislation that impacts the housing market.

On the health front, thousands of Virginians are still unable to access health care, and proposed legislative changes to make prescriptions more affordable for the public are under fierce debate. As the state continues grappling with how to create a commercial marijuana market, new discussions have surfaced about expanding the medical use of cannabis. State leaders and health workers are determining how to best address Virginia’s behavioral health care shortcomings and the perennial debate about reproductive health care is more prominent than ever, as Virginia is alone among neighboring states in preserving abortion access. It is essential that the Mercury remains a trusted source of balanced reporting on these topics and others of importance to Virginians.

Virginia is a particularly dynamic place to report on housing issues as a secondary beat. Renters here are managing record-high cost burdens, and the eviction rate in Richmond is the second-highest in the nation. Recent reports of racially disproportionate mortgage lending shed light on the persistent problems Virginians of color face trying to buy or build homes and create financial legacies for their families.

The health and housing reporter will be expected to glean stories from not only the legislature, public health officials and housing experts, but from field reporting around Virginia. Willingness to collaborate with other reporters is key, as is an eagerness to look for new ways to demystify complex policy topics.

The Mercury is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news network.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Produce regular, high quality reporting on the state’s top health and housing matters.
Contribute regularly to The Bulletin, the Mercury’s briefs section
Generate story ideas with the editorial team
Pursue story leads with strong self-direction and news judgment
Collaborate with other reporters and assist with research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
Establish and expand social media presence representing the outlet
Use personal social media accounts to amplify site’s content
Take quality photos to illustrate stories
Must possess reliable personal transportation since travel to other parts of the state will be essential

QUALIFICATIONS

We’re looking for a self-starter with at least three years of professional journalism experience, sound news judgment, and the ability to simultaneously manage ongoing short- and long-term projects. Previous experience covering health and/or housing is strongly preferred, as is knowledge of Virginia’s political landscape and leaders, agencies and environmental issues. States Newsroom reporters are expected to produce at least 4 posts per week.

Authorization to work in the United States is required. All States Newsroom employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID within 30 days of hire.

The minimum salary for this position is $58,000 and rises with experience. Our generous benefits package includes:

Premium-free platinum health care for employees and their families (i.e., nothing comes out of your paycheck!)
Four weeks of vacation per year
Two weeks of personal leave per year
20 hours of paid volunteer time per year
11 paid holidays per year
$75 monthly cell phone reimbursement
$200 cell phone replacement benefit every two years
$75 monthly fitness benefit
401K with up to 3% match
12 weeks of parental leave
Full-service EAP
Annual DeleteMe subscription

Laptop and any necessary equipment will be provided.

ABOUT OUR CULTURE

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels — from quick hit to investigative — but not at the expense of burning out its employees. We are supportive, exciting, welcoming and positive. We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat.

States Newsroom’s mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission.

At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, three professional references and at least three clips/links of published work to jobs@statesnewsroom.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.The Virginia Mercury, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom covering Virginia government, policy and politics, is seeking a health and housing reporter to join its staff.

The Virginia Mercury is a team of veteran Virginia reporters dedicated to the mission of relentless journalism that sheds light on how decisions are made in Richmond and how they affect individuals, families and communities across the Old Dominion.

The health and housing reporter will be based in Richmond and report to the editor in chief. The reporter will cover health in the commonwealth, including the accessibility and affordability of health care, health disparities and issues related to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of Virginians. Concurrently, the reporter will cover issues including affordability and other challenges Virginia residents face buying or renting homes, as well as legislation that impacts the housing market.

On the health front, thousands of Virginians are still unable to access health care, and proposed legislative changes to make prescriptions more affordable for the public are under fierce debate. As the state continues grappling with how to create a commercial marijuana market, new discussions have surfaced about expanding the medical use of cannabis. State leaders and health workers are determining how to best address Virginia’s behavioral health care shortcomings and the perennial debate about reproductive health care is more prominent than ever, as Virginia is alone among neighboring states in preserving abortion access. It is essential that the Mercury remains a trusted source of balanced reporting on these topics and others of importance to Virginians.

Virginia is a particularly dynamic place to report on housing issues as a secondary beat. Renters here are managing record-high cost burdens, and the eviction rate in Richmond is the second-highest in the nation. Recent reports of racially disproportionate mortgage lending shed light on the persistent problems Virginians of color face trying to buy or build homes and create financial legacies for their families.

The health and housing reporter will be expected to glean stories from not only the legislature, public health officials and housing experts, but from field reporting around Virginia. Willingness to collaborate with other reporters is key, as is an eagerness to look for new ways to demystify complex policy topics.

The Mercury is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news network.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Produce regular, high quality reporting on the state’s top health and housing matters.
Contribute regularly to The Bulletin, the Mercury’s briefs section
Generate story ideas with the editorial team
Pursue story leads with strong self-direction and news judgment
Collaborate with other reporters and assist with research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
Establish and expand social media presence representing the outlet
Use personal social media accounts to amplify site’s content
Take quality photos to illustrate stories
Must possess reliable personal transportation since travel to other parts of the state will be essential

QUALIFICATIONS

We’re looking for a self-starter with at least three years of professional journalism experience, sound news judgment, and the ability to simultaneously manage ongoing short- and long-term projects. Previous experience covering health and/or housing is strongly preferred, as is knowledge of Virginia’s political landscape and leaders, agencies and environmental issues. States Newsroom reporters are expected to produce at least 4 posts per week.

Authorization to work in the United States is required. All States Newsroom employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID within 30 days of hire.

The minimum salary for this position is $58,000 and rises with experience. Our generous benefits package includes:

Premium-free platinum health care for employees and their families (i.e., nothing comes out of your paycheck!)
Four weeks of vacation per year
Two weeks of personal leave per year
20 hours of paid volunteer time per year
11 paid holidays per year
$75 monthly cell phone reimbursement
$200 cell phone replacement benefit every two years
$75 monthly fitness benefit
401K with up to 3% match
12 weeks of parental leave
Full-service EAP
Annual DeleteMe subscription

Laptop and any necessary equipment will be provided.

ABOUT OUR CULTURE

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels — from quick hit to investigative — but not at the expense of burning out its employees. We are supportive, exciting, welcoming and positive. We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat.

States Newsroom’s mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission.

At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, three professional references and at least three clips/links of published work to jobs@statesnewsroom.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.