Local Politics Reporter
The Houston Chronicle is seeking a sharp, well-sourced reporter based in Houston to cover the people who represent the Houston region in positions of power — and whether they are delivering.
This reporter will focus on the region’s political ecosystem beyond City Hall: the local delegation in Austin and Washington, the leadership and strategy of local Democratic and Republican parties and the relationships that shape how the Houston area’s interests are advanced or sidelined. That includes close coverage of how leaders across the region engage with state leadership, including Gov. Greg Abbott, at a time when tensions between the state and Harris County continue to define the political landscape.
The Houston region sits at the center of some of the most consequential political fights in Texas, spanning one of the largest and most diverse metro areas in the country. With Houston set to host the Republican National Convention, the region’s role in national politics is growing. This reporter will own the question: Who represents the Houston area, how effective are they, and what are they delivering?
This role sits on the Chronicle’s local government team and works closely with our Austin-based politics team to deliver comprehensive coverage of the region’s presence in state and national decision-making.
Key responsibilities
Cover Houston-area elected officials in Austin and Washington, tracking their priorities, influence and effectiveness in delivering for the region
- Develop deep sourcing within the Houston-area delegation and break news on policy, politics and behind-the-scenes dynamics
- Report on the relationship between leaders across the Houston region and state leadership, including points of conflict, negotiation and alignment
- Cover local Democratic and Republican parties across the region, including leadership, strategy, organizing and internal divisions
- Work closely with our Austin-based politics team to advance statewide coverage with a clear Houston-area lens
- Produce a consistent cadence of breaking news and deeply reported scoops that hold elected officials accountable to the needs of the region’s residents
- Collaborate with data reporters, visuals and audience teams to strengthen reporting
Tell stories across formats, including working with video and visual teams to explain complex political issues in clear, engaging ways
We’re looking for someone who
Has 3+ years of reporting experience, with a strong preference for local government or statehouse coverage
- Is based in Houston or willing to relocate, with a strong understanding of the Houston-area region and its political landscape
- Is driven to break news and develop original reporting on a competitive political beat
- Has a strong track record of building sources and delivering scoops
- Understands how power operates across local, state and federal levels
Writes with clarity and authority, helping readers make sense of complex political relationships and outcomes
Success is measured by
Breaking news and delivering exclusive reporting on the Houston-area delegation and political leadership
- Producing journalism that clearly answers whether elected officials are delivering for the region
Creating coverage that drives engagement, loyalty and subscriber value
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 and 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.
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Skills Required
- 3+ years of reporting experience, preference for local government or statehouse coverage
- Based in Houston or willing to relocate to Houston
- Strong understanding of the Houston-area region and its political landscape
- Proven track record of building sources and delivering scoops/breaking news
- Ability to write with clarity and authority to explain complex political relationships
- Ability to work across formats and collaborate with data, visuals and video teams
Hearst Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hearst and has not been reviewed or approved by Hearst.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical plan choice, full in-network preventive coverage, dental and vision, telemedicine, prescription coverage, and fertility resources. Mental-health resources and other wellbeing services (e.g., therapy sessions, crisis support, virtual physical therapy, and chronic-condition programs) further strengthen the health offering.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as meaningful through a 401(k) plan with company matching and Hearst covering plan administration fees. Performance bonuses are also noted as available in some roles, adding an additional rewards component beyond base pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits include paid holidays, paid sick days, and vacation time with a commonly cited annual range, alongside paid parental leave and family medical leave. A remote work program and flexibility signals are also included as part of the overall rewards experience.
Hearst Insights
What We Do
Hearst is a leading global, diversified media, information and services company with more than 360 businesses. Its major interests include ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; global financial services leader Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; transportation assets including CAMP Systems International, a major provider of software-as-a-service solutions for managing maintenance of jets and helicopters; 33 television stations such as WCVB-TV in Boston and KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, which reach a combined 19 percent of U.S. viewers; newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Times Union (Albany, New York); more than 300 magazines around the world, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Men's Health and Car and Driver, and digital services businesses such as iCrossing and KUBRA; and investments in emerging digital entertainment companies such as Complex Networks.
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