Beat Reporters-Boulder County CO

Yellow Scene Magazine

Boulder (CO)

On-site

USD 20,088 - 33,480

Part time

14 days+

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Job summary

An independent local news outlet in Boulder is seeking entry-level beat reporters for covering local issues like housing and elections. You will attend city meetings, publish dispatches, and conduct interviews. This contract role offers competitive pay for coverage of public meetings and in-depth stories. Passion for local journalism and civic engagement is essential. Writers from marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

Comfortable with interviews, live note-taking, and local research.
A clear communicator with a strong grasp of civic systems.
Passionate about public accountability and equity-based coverage.

Responsibilities

Attend biweekly city council or planning meetings.
Publish regular dispatches (biweekly to monthly).
Cover local issues like housing, policing, and elections.
Interview local officials, residents, and activists.
Track long-term issues and local controversies.

Skills

Communication

Research

Interviewing

Civic awareness

Job description

Overview

Do you live and breathe local news? Yellow Scene Magazine is hiring dedicated beat reporters for the Boulder and Longmont regions. Roughly 25-30 hours a month on average.

Your Beat

Your Beat Would Include:

Attending biweekly city council or planning meetings
Publishing regular dispatches (biweekly to monthly)
Covering local issues like housing, affordability, policing, elections, and development
Interviewing local officials, residents, activists, and watchdogs
Tracking long-term issues and local controversies with context and depth

You Should Be

Comfortable with interviews, live note-taking, and local research
A clear communicator with a strong grasp of civic systems
Passionate about public accountability and equity-based coverage
Willing to travel locally for meetings or in-person reporting when appropriate

Pay Structure

We pay $50 for every two public meetings covered (whether or not a story results)
Per-story rates include cash plus optional trade, typically from $75 to $175
Longer, more intensive stories may pay up to $300+, depending on depth and reporting time

To Apply

Send us an email at associate.editor@yellowscene.com with:

Your resume and writing samples
Which beat (or region) you're applying for
A few sentences on why local journalism matters to you

Writers from marginalized communities and those with ties to the cities we cover are especially encouraged to apply.

About Yellow Scene Magazine

Being independent in local news isn’t easy these days; in fact, it’s damn hard. We are an independent local magazine that refuses to do sponsored content. Local news matters as much as national news, and we’re committed to maintaining journalistic standards and covering our community. We’ve earned 25 years, 200+ awards, and a lot of hustle, and we’re still here.

In the world of "content writing" (which we have a particular disdain for), there are still a few beacons of local media staying true to the mission.

Yellow Scene Magazine may not be a national publication, but in 2025 we celebrate 25 years as a credentialed, independent magazine in Boulder County. We cover arts, entertainment, news, politics, social issues, education, healthcare, science, elections, and more — basically, whatever we think is worthy of real discussion.

We’ve won nearly 200 awards for Excellence in Journalism since 2000 and have grown to be the largest distributed publication in the region. We stay true to the mission. You won’t find a single “Native Advertising” article in our pages. Ever.

We encourage writers to find their Voice. Factually based, of course—but your voice matters, and you’re here to use it. You’re not afraid of research, and you’re not afraid of direction. We’re cranky, always broke, getting old, and picky.

Seniority level