Congressional Reporter (5-month contract)

The Washington Post • Washington, DC

7d • $8,000 - $10,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Washington Post is hiring a sourced, creative, high-energy reporter to cover the U.S. Senate on a temporary basis while a member of the Congress team is on parental leave. This full-time contract assignment is expected to begin Nov. 30 and last approximately five months. The position is based in the Washington, D.C., newsroom and pays $8,000–$10,000 per month, depending on experience and qualifications.

The reporter will collaborate with the Congress team to make Senate developments and their effects accessible to a broad audience. The role requires breaking news, building and maintaining sources, covering major policy and procedural fights, and explaining the Senate’s institutions and processes clearly. The reporter will also pursue enterprise and accountability stories, produce authoritative journalism as events unfold, and work with colleagues across formats while upholding high standards of accuracy, fairness and ethics.

Applicants should upload a cover letter, résumé and three work samples as PDFs. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; applications received by Nov. 1 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Deputy Congress Editor Sean Collins, Congress Editor John Wagner, Deputy Politics & Government Editor Jen Liberto and Politics & Government Editor Nick Baumann. Applicants should list all professional experience and explain any employment-history gaps, and upload all application materials to the designated Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples field.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience covering Congress, another legislature or a similarly competitive political or government beat.
• A track record of breaking impactful stories.
• Demonstrated ability to report and write breaking news with speed, clarity and precision.
• Strong source-building skills and an instinct for original and consequential reporting.
• Ability to explain complicated policy and procedural matters clearly without insider language.
• Excellent news judgment and ability to balance daily coverage with enterprise and accountability reporting.
• Eagerness to collaborate with colleagues in a competitive, fast-moving newsroom.
• Commitment to accuracy, fairness and the highest standards of journalism.

Nice To Haves

• Experience covering the Senate is strongly preferred.
• Existing Senate sources and familiarity with Senate rules, institutions and procedure are significant advantages.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with The Post’s Congress team to make Senate developments and their effects interesting and accessible to a broad audience.
• Break news on senators, Senate leadership, key committees, and the political and policy dynamics driving the chamber.
• Develop and maintain sources among senators, aides, committee staff, administration officials, activists, lobbyists and others seeking to influence the Senate.
• Cover major policy and procedural fights, including legislation, nominations and confirmations, and explain their political stakes and real-world consequences.
• Track the relationship between the Senate and other centers of political power, including the House, White House and federal judiciary.
• Identify opportunities for enterprise and accountability reporting, including potential conflicts of interest, misconduct and abuses of power.
• Produce fast, authoritative journalism as news develops while pursuing original reporting that distinguishes The Post’s coverage.
• Adhere to high ethical standards, ensuring fairness, rigor and meaningful opportunities for subjects to respond.
• Collaborate with data reporters, graphics journalists, photographers, designers and video journalists to determine effective formats and maximize impact.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed