State Politics Reporter

CDS Global • Austin, TX

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an aggressive and insightful Texas politics reporter to join our
state politics team in Austin. You will cover the people, policies, and power
dynamics shaping Texas for the largest news organizations in Texas including the
Houston Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News and the Austin
American-Statesman. This reporter will be responsible for breaking news,
producing sharp enterprise stories, and delivering smart analysis that explains
what’s happening in state government — and why it matters to our audiences.

We’re looking for someone who can cut through political noise to deliver
meaningful, high-impact reporting that holds elected officials accountable and
connects policy decisions to everyday life. From the Legislature to state
agencies and campaign trails, this reporter will cover a wide range of political
developments with urgency, depth and clarity.

This is a high-impact role covering one of the most powerful state governments
in the country. If you’re passionate about public accountability, political
reporting and helping readers understand the power behind the policies, we’d
love to hear from you.

About the Houston Chronicle:

The Houston Chronicle, recognized for its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houston’s largest websites — HoustonChronicle.com
[https://houstonchronicle.com/] and Chron.com [https://www.chron.com/], along
with our magazine, television and newspaper brands.  Our mission is to spark
conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston.  All our content
and the innovative business solutions we provide invite Houstonians to join
conversations about a community we’ve been committed to covering and helping
prosper for more than 120 years. The community we all call home.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily
and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston
Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top
digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and
entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.

At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing
newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of
people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be
inspired.  

Be a part of something bigger – your headline awaits.

Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates, if you are interested in
applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our
website or regarding the application process, please contact us by email at
[email protected].  Please do not use this email address to inquire about
the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning
requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.

Requirements

• Has 3+ years of experience covering politics, government, or public policy — statehouse experience preferred.
• Is a sharp writer and reporter who can juggle breaking news, daily stories and longer enterprise pieces.
• Understands the stakes of state government and can connect policies to the people and communities affected.
• Is comfortable navigating political power structures and understands how to report fairly, independently and with authority.
• Has a digital-first mindset and understands how to optimize coverage for different audiences and formats.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and communicates well with colleagues across newsrooms.

Responsibilities

• Be first and best on breaking political news while identifying and reporting on deeper trends that affect Texans.
• Deliver exclusive, high-impact stories that explain how state policies affect schools, cities, the environment, the economy and more.
• Cover statewide elections and political campaigns with urgency and depth, focusing on both policy and how Texas shapes the national conversation.
• Build a strong network of sources in government, politics, advocacy, and watchdog groups to break news and deepen coverage.
• Write clearly and authoritatively for digital audiences, using smart framing, engaging headlines and accessible language.
• Work collaboratively with visuals, data and audience teams to create compelling journalism across text, video, graphics and social platforms.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees