Reporter, Economics

The Wall Street Journal is looking for a reporter to cover the economy in the western U.S.

The U.S. economy is a hodgepodge of regions, cities, states, neighborhoods. To understand it, we need to be talking to the people, business owners and government officials who live in them. We’re looking for a reporter who, guided by data, can find the on-the-ground stories that help our audience make sense of a constantly changing economic outlook.

Labor-market dynamics, big infrastructure projects, the effects of government spending, economic-policy debates are all fair game. We’re looking for a reporter who’s equally comfortable analyzing reams of economic data and unearthing the people-driven stories that illuminate it. We need a sharp writer who can translate complicated and nuanced information for our highly engaged audience.

The ideal candidate is a newshound who’s capable of nailing big scoops and writing ambitious features. This reporter is comfortable on video and audio, and loves to experiment with storytelling formats. We’re looking for something with a solid working knowledge of financial markets, the economy’s circulatory system, as well as the political dynamics that influence Americans’ attitudes about the country’s financial health. A desire to collaborate with colleagues in other coverage areas is a must.

This position is based in Houston and reports to the U.S. Economy Bureau Chief.

You will:

Break news on your beat.

Conceptualize and deliver deeply reported enterprise stories.

Work with colleagues around the country and the world in a 24-hour-a-day global newsroom.

You have:

Ideally at least five years of reporting experience dominating a highly competitive beat.

Deadline skills to report and write clearly under pressure.

A history of delivering stories while working independently

Proven ability to develop sources and write with authority on what is happening and what it means.

A track record of tackling ambitious projects, finding original approaches to coverage and working with visuals to find creative storytelling techniques.