Apprentice Reporters

An apprentice reporter for The Center Square is a journalist near the beginning of their professional career who spends six months under the guidance of experienced editors who will train them on the news gathering, reporting and writing process. The Center Square reports the news on public policy and other matters of interest to taxpayers across the U.S., and apprentice reporters will help us further that mission. These are paid positions, and successful completion of the apprenticeship program could lead to a full-time reporting job at The Center Square.

The Center Square covers government from a taxpayers’ perspective, not from government’s perspective. We hold government officials accountable for their actions and decisions, and inform our readers how those decisions affect them.

The apprentice reporters will help supplement our coverage in key states, including Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Duties and responsibilities will include:

Report on legislative and policy issues and their impact on taxpayers in assigned states.
Contribute to The Center Square's coverage of key races in advance of the November election.
Participate in weekly meetings with a Managing Editor, who will mentor apprentice reporters on navigating public records and databases to ferret out waste, fraud and abuse.
Publish up to 10 news stories each week
Generate relevant story ideas with frequency, and discuss with managing editor.
Cultivate trusted sources to provide leads on potential stories, including those inside and outside government, think tanks, academia, unions and the business community.
Monitor the media landscape to identify popular topics and potential media partners.

Qualifications:

Passionate about The Center Square’s mission
Bachelor’s degree or higher
Background in journalism or journalistic functions
Familiarity with government policy issues
Ability to uncover original stories and break them
Entrepreneurial approach and ability to work independently
Excellent, proactive communicator
Demonstrated understanding of planning and budgeting processes
Ability to travel on an as-needed basis, including regionally when called upon
Strong commitment to the principles of personal responsibility and free enterprise

Send resume, cover letter and links to clips to dmccaleb@thecentersquare.com.