Senior Campaign Reporter

USA Today is seeking a senior campaign reporter who excels at source building, narrative writing and finding the stories other reporters might overlook.

This is a role for a journalist who always aims high and wants to tell stories that are centered on the voters who will decide 2024 election, not on the strategists, messaging gurus and political insiders. We are looking for someone who would relish the chance to write lively, engaging stories for USA Today's massive audience and that of our network news organizations around the country.

Voters are hungry for people-focused stories that offer fresh insights about the political polarization they are seeing in their daily lives, whether it involves the presidential race, ballot measures on abortion or protests on college campuses. We are uniquely positioned to tell these stories and are looking for talented senior reporter to join our team.

The ideal candidate is someone who can write big breaking stories under deadline pressure but who also has a track record of delivering deeply reported enterprise and exclusives. A collaborative approach and boundless curiosity are essential for this job.

Job Level: Sr National News Reporter
Minimum salary: $85,000

Responsibilities:

Deliver compelling stories, scoops and exclusives from the 2024 campaign trail that inform and engage our audience.
A flair for narrative writing and compelling storytelling but also the ability to write quickly under deadline when big stories break.
Versatility to experiment with a variety of story formats.
Collaborate across the USA Today Network, teaming up with reporters, editors and visual journalists to create multimedia content that will help us grow audience.
Package and optimize stories to help them reach the widest possible audience.
Promote personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
Provide great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
Help colleagues set up and participate in live events related to the 2024 primary race.
Perform other duties as necessary.

Requirements:

Bachelor's or master’s degree in journalism or any other subject or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of 5 years' reporting/newsroom experience. Prior political reporting experience is essential.
The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong news judgment, the ability to file accurate, concise, and clean copy on tight deadlines, and to build on breaking news with smart short- and long-term enterprise ideas.
A mindset of curiosity, growth and change, and a willingness to try, be wrong, and learn from setbacks.
Experience generating quick-turn news stories, thoughtful enterprise, and in-depth projects.
An interest in new ways of informing and engaging audiences on social platforms and alternate story forms.
Familiarity with SEO best practices a plus.
A collaborative approach and strong communication skills.
Understanding of – or eagerness to learn about - audience analytics and how they can help inform content decisions.
This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Expectation is you will go to events and appearances across the state, meeting with voters and reporting in-person.
Ability to shoot still photos and short videos to accompany stories.
This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment, post-offer background check, drug screen & motor vehicle record check.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

Your resume – one to two pages.
A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.