US Political Reporter

dmg::media•Washington, DC

6d•$80,000•Onsite

About The Position

DailyMail.com is seeking an energetic and skilled U.S. Political Reporter for its Washington, D.C., office to cover U.S. politics with a focus on the White House. This role offers a unique opportunity for a journalist to write for a leading global news website and assume a prominent position within the D.C. politics team. The team is responsible for covering breaking news from Capitol Hill, the White House, Cabinet agencies, and the campaign trail. Outstanding candidates will be adaptable to flexible hours, prepared for breaking news coverage (including evenings and weekends), and capable of managing live coverage of major events. They should possess the ability to write engaging copy and headlines, and be proficient in communicating through words, photographs, and video. Crucially, the ideal candidate must be able to break exclusive stories, secure scoops, and influence the national conversation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Strong knowledge of Congress, the White House, and federal election campaigns
Expertise in American politics
Substantial experience (at least three years) in print and online journalism across all fields
Experience covering U.S. politics for a news organization operating in real-time
Competence with a digital publishing platform
A portfolio of published clips

Responsibilities

Follow breaking news, pitch exclusive projects to the Executive Editor of Politics and write features based on the pressing political issues of the day that interest DailyMail.com readers in the U.S.
Cover the White House, Congress, political campaigns, the Pentagon, and other agencies.
Focus on politics, power, and influence at a national level.
Act as a brand ambassador in Washington, D.C., for DailyMail.com and work to increase Daily Mail Plus subscribers.
Gather and compile information on political events and use news judgment to produce stories tailored to the DailyMail.com audience.
Provide high-quality analysis and content based on daily political news.
Write between three and eight articles per day, adjusting for breaking news and ongoing projects.
Produce original stories and projects, and arrange interviews related to political events impacting readers' lives.
Work seven days a week, including nights, to cover the 24-hour political news cycle, including late nights for Congressional sessions, major speeches, breaking news, and significant developments in current issues and scandals.
Attend White House daily briefings, interview members of Congress, ask questions during press conferences, and travel across the United States and internationally for official visits.
Utilize extensive knowledge of Search Engine Optimization and social media to optimize traffic and disseminate Dailymail.com stories.
Write copy in the Dailymail.com style, ensuring accuracy, employing entertaining language, and contributing to punchy headlines.
Balance research with fast-breaking news coverage.
Produce visually compelling stories incorporating photos, graphics, video, and occasionally audio.
Demonstrate flexibility to cover stories across different political areas beyond assigned beats or interests.
Mentor and collaborate with junior members of the Dailymail.com Politics team in Washington, D.C.
Contribute to group projects and assist junior members in obtaining information.