Government and politics editor

USA TODAY Co., Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, is seeking a government and politics editor to lead a team of reporters in a fast-paced Central Indiana market. The role focuses on watchdog, enterprise and ongoing coverage of local and national politics.

The editor will emphasize audience needs, teach strong source-building, manage deadlines and champion rigorous, ethical reporting across all formats. A passion for politics and teamwork is essential.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of journalism experience with political reporting or editing.
• Proven proficiency in applying analytics to content strategy.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Deadline-driven with exceptional planning and organizational skills.
• Experience with public records and data journalism; solid understanding of media law.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of reporters covering city, state, and federal government.
• Lead coverage of national or statewide political interest for the USA TODAY Network.
• Mentor reporters on source-building, interviewing and public records.
• Guide storytelling using various formats, video, and visuals.
• Use metrics to guide the team's approach to stories.
• Handle editing duties, including evening and weekend rotations.

Skills

Team leadership

Source-building

Public records

Analytics in content

SEO knowledge

Social media

News editing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, has an immediate opening for a watchdog-minded, politically savvy journalist who can lead a team of reporters in a competitive, newsy market.

This is a key newsroom role, particularly following the 2026 midterm elections and heading into the start of the Indiana legislative session. Meanwhile, a highly competitive mayoral election has already kicked off ahead of next year's election.

The government and politics editor will work with reporters on the front end as well as the back to shape the full range of politics and government coverage, from breaking news to contextualized enterprise to investigative and watchdog journalism only IndyStar delivers.

The editor will put audience at the center of our coverage, asking with every story what do residents of Central Indiana want and need to know about their governments. They will embrace change and experimentation, learning from failures and pivoting quickly. And they will recognize the value of urgency and scoops.

The successful candidate will have political reporting experience, a keen editing eye and sharp news judgment — someone who is a team player and self-directed, passionate and compassionate, someone who finds success in the success of others.

People skills are as important as journalism skills in this role. Our government and politics editor will be part of a small but mighty team of news editors who rely on each other daily. You will lead your team with empathy while also challenging them to do their best work — whether they're interns still in college, our most experienced staffers or somewhere in between.

IndyStar is the winner of three Pulitzer Prizes, most recently in 2021. You’ll work with and learn from some of journalism’s best while living in a vibrant and diverse city in the heart of the Midwest.

Our mission is clear: IndyStar informs, empowers and inspires the people of Central Indiana with our journalism. We deliver journalism that is essential to the communities we serve with urgency. We are a people-centered newsroom that’s obsessed with thoughtful experimentation and developing our next generation of industry leaders.

If you’re up to the challenge of moving us forward, read on for job requirements and information on how to share your qualifications and best work.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a team of news reporters, including reporters covering Indianapolis city hall, Hamilton County, the Indiana Statehouse and our federal delegation
• Lead and provide coverage of national or statewide interest for the USA TODAY Network
• Mentor reporters on source-building, interviewing and public records
• Meet our audience where they are by using different story formats, video and other visuals to convey information
• Use metrics and our internal metrics experts to guide your team's approach to stories
• Handle other editing duties as needed, including evening and weekend editor rotations

Requirements

• At least five years of journalism experience, including experience in political reporting or editing
• Proven proficiency in applying analytics to content strategy
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Comfort in deadline-driven environment
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills
• Social-media and SEO knowledge
• Strong line-editing skills
• Strong people-management skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Experience with public records and data journalism
• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct
• Bachelor's degree
• Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check.

About

We are eager to learn more about you and what you will add to an already-great newsroom. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

• Your resume – one to two pages.
• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
• Links to 3 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at [e-mail]. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.