Government and Politics Reporter

Role Overview

Produce exclusive, agenda-setting journalism that holds public officials accountable, explains the impact of state government, policies and politics on Texans and distinguishes our newsroom through original reporting.

The Dallas Morning News is seeking an experienced, ambitious reporter to cover Texas state government and politics from our Capitol Bureau in Austin. Key coverage areas include statewide and legislative leaders, state agencies, government spending, the budget and taxes, elections, political strategy and personalities. The position will collaborate with the Hearst Texas Bureau in Austin.

What You’ll Do

• Break exclusive news on the governor, Legislature, statewide officials, agencies and Texas politics.
• Produce a mix of daily news, accountability reporting, enterprise and feature stories that reveal how state government affects Texans.
• Publish with a digital-first mindset, delivering timely reporting and using multiple storytelling formats.
• Cover campaigns and elections with fairness, independence and a focus on their impact.
• Explain complex legislation, budgets, court decisions and regulatory actions with clarity.
• Cover the Legislature and related major events with speed, accuracy and context.
• Hold public officials and institutions accountable through reporting, public records, data analysis and source development.
• Build and maintain a deep network of trusted sources across state government and Texas politics.
• Collaborate with investigative, data, visuals and partner newsroom teams on major projects.
• Uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and verification under deadline.

What You’ll Bring

• At least five years of professional reporting experience, including significant coverage of state government, politics, a Legislature or Congress.
• Proven ability to balance breaking news with enterprise and accountability reporting.
• Experience producing digital-first journalism and using multiple storytelling platforms to engage audiences.
• Exceptional source-building skills across government, politics and the Capitol community.
• Strong skills using public records, campaign finance, ethics filings and data.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Deep knowledge of Texas government, politics, the legislative process and public policy is a plus.

Work Smarter with AI

Through our strategic content partnership with OpenAI and our exclusive ChatGPT Enterprise license, we have access to the latest advancements in AI technology. Our access to AI tools, as well as the many Hearst DevHub-built tools (an editorial innovation team), acts as a smart assistant for routine work. In our newsroom, you will use AI to:

• Generate headline options, SEO keywords or alert language.
• Clean up grammar, apply style and improve clarity.
• Version stories for different formats (video, audio) or platforms (social media).
• Monitor public meetings and get alerts with transcripts and video.
• Process and summarize data with AI assistance, human-verified before use.

Advanced AI is not a journalist, but it can facilitate and accelerate the work of journalism.

Additional Information

• Sponsorship: This position does not provide immigration sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the U.S. without immigration sponsorship.
• Accommodations: We are committed to an accessible application process. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact [email protected]. This email address is for accommodation requests only.

Benefits

We support our employees through personal and professional development and promote physical, financial and emotional wellbeing for employees and their families. Our benefits include:

• Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental and vision coverage to help keep you and your family healthy.
• Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with a matching program in most markets.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
• Paid Parental Leave: Paid leave to support growing families and new parents.
• Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
• Emotional Wellbeing: Mental wellness benefits to support your emotional wellbeing.
• LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for individual needs.
• Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Support throughout different stages of your health and family journey.
• Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: Support to help keep your pets happy and healthy.
• And more: Learn more about additional benefits and details here.