Beat Writer Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

The reporter in this beat covers the impact of the decision-making and culture in Washington on the residents of Tampa Bay and Florida. This staffer’s role is to systematically examine the federal government’s impact on state residents. From immigration to healthcare, and from basic pocketbook economic issues to overhauls of education, law enforcement and the military, this beat affords us an opportunity to explore how the lives of our readers are affected by decisions in Washington — and by high-ranking federal officials who call Florida home. We cover these officials as our own, bringing accountability and a deeper understanding of the roles they play and what that means for our readers. Florida will continue to change because of decisions made on the federal level. This beat explains how and why - encompassing both politics and policy. The reporter will be expected to track key developments with big effects for Floridians, explaining them from our state’s lens and zooming in to tell the stories of everyday people dealing with fast and furious changes. The ideal candidate would work to build sources at the upper echelons of Florida politics, hunting for scoops and revealing how decisions get made, while also working to translate fast-moving policies into their granular effects. This reporter would be comfortable turning fast-paced, richly drawn enterprise, and would be adept at becoming an expert on a range of subjects, whether it’s offshore drilling, tariffs or election security. Expect a mix of scoops, breaking news and explanatory reads, plus opportunities to step back for political analysis and accountability reporting.

There are a lot of changes happening, and we expect this reporter to be in the mix often. The work is aimed at helping our readers understand the key players and what their decisions mean, becoming a clear and indispensable voice cutting through the political noise.

Teamwork is essential to our politics coverage. This reporter would work with the politics team and Tallahassee bureau, including preparing our readers for key elections. And this beat is positioned to collaborate with reporters around the newsroom, including environmental policy, energy and healthcare access.

FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES: If you’re interested, send a memo with your pitch on the job and three to five story ideas.

FOR EXTERNAL CANDIDATES: Please send a cover letter with your vision for the job, including at least three story ideas, a resume that includes three references, and five clips that showcase your reporting and writing abilities.

Responsibilities:

• Report and write quickly,accurately,and often on breaking and important news.
• Find great scoops that are fast-moving and highly readable.
• Develop enterprise and investigative stories.
• Build and maintain a strong and diverse network of resources.
• Translate complex federal policy decisions into clear, engaging journalism for a broad audience.
• Collaborate with editors and colleagues to prioritize coverage and elevate storytelling across platforms.
• Understand and use audience metrics to help increase readership.
• Identify and pursue exclusive stories that differentiate the Tampa Bay Times from competitors.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience at a college publication is a plus. Ideally, applicants have completed at least one professional internship or job.
• Demonstrated experience in reporting, preferably covering politics,government,or related beats.
• Strong news judgment and grasp of ethics, with the ability to move quickly on breaking stories without sacrificing accuracy.
• Experience developing enterprise or investigative stories.
• Comfort working with data,reportsand financial documents to inform coverage.
• Proven ability to cultivate andmaintainsource relationships.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to explain complex topics clearly.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Open to early morning and late evening work and an occasional weekend shift.
• Deep curiosity and high energy.
• Eagerness to collaborate across the newsroom and ask questions.
• Must have reliable transportation.

Benefits for Full-Time Eligible Employees:

• Health coverage for you and your family through medical,dental,and vision plans.
• 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability.
• 100% employer-paid basic life insurance.
• Tax advantages through flexible spending accounts that allow you to pay for specific healthcare and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tax-Deferred Savings Plan for retirement.
• A generous PTO program and much more.

Our organization is committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the vibrant and diverse communities we serve. We welcome qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.

The Tampa Bay Times is generally a hybrid workplace, without any minimum requirement for days in office. For this position, living in Florida is required to better report on the communities within it.