State Politics Reporter

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.

Key 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.

We’re looking for someone who:

• 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.

Success is measured by:

• Breaking stories that lead political coverage across Texas.

• Producing enterprise and accountability stories that inform, engage and drive impact.

• Growth in engagement, readership and reach of political coverage.

• Strong source relationships that result in exclusive reporting and deeper insight.

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 — Houston Chronicle.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 hnpemployment@hearst.com. 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.