Political Reporter

Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Inside Philanthropy is seeking a Political Reporter (Money in Politics) for a remote, U.S.-based role. The position starts as a 1099 three-month contract with the aim to convert to a permanent W-2.

The reporter will cover money in politics, campaign finance, lobbying, and influential nonprofits, delivering rigorously sourced work on deadline. The candidate should have 3+ years in political or nonprofit reporting, a strong data/public records skillset, and the ability to thrive in a startup

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of reporting experience or equivalent around politics, policy, or nonprofits.
• Strong interest in money in politics, influence, or accountability.
• Ability to produce clean, accurate, and engaging stories on deadline.
• Comfortable working with data, documents, and public records.
• Curious, skeptical, and persistent in pursuing difficult stories.
• Comfortable in a startup newsroom and collaborating on workflow.
• Open to using AI tools in reporting.

Responsibilities

• Break news and produce original reporting on campaign finance, lobbying, PACs, and political spending.
• Build and maintain a network of sources across government, advocacy groups, industry, and regulatory bodies.
• Analyze and interpret public records (FEC filings, IRS 990s, lobbying disclosures, state databases).
• Mix daily reporting with enterprise and investigative stories that reveal how money influences policy and decision-making.
• Bring a distinct voice and point of view to reporting, grounded in rigorous standards.

Skills

Deadline-driven reporting

Money in politics

Source network building

Data/public records literacy

Curiosity and persistence

Startup mindset

AI experiment openness

Tools

Excel

SQL

Job description

Job Title: Political Reporter (Money in Politics) Location: Remote (U.S.-based preferred) Type: Full-time

About the Role

Inside Philanthropy is hiring a reporter for a new project to cover how money shapes political power in the U.S—from campaign finance and lobbying to politically active nonprofits. This beat sits at the intersection of politics, policy, and economic influence, with a focus on reporting that connects financial flows to election outcomes, governing priorities, and policy decisions.

You’ll translate complex systems and networks into clear, compelling journalism, uncover underreported dynamics, and pursue original stories that break news, hold people and institutions accountable, and provide actionable intelligence to professionals working in and around politics.

This is a full-time role that begins as a 1099 three-month contract, with the intention to convert to a permanent W-2 staff position following a successful review. This is a remote role in the U.S. with a flexible schedule, but it requires regular availability during standard U.S. business hours and participation in team meetings via Zoom and Slack in a collaborative environment.

What You’ll Do

• Break news and produce original reporting on campaign finance, lobbying, PACs, and political spending
• Build and maintain a network of sources across government, advocacy groups, industry, and regulatory bodies
• Analyze and interpret public records (FEC filings, IRS 990s, lobbying disclosures, state databases)
• Mix daily reporting with enterprise and investigative stories that reveal how money influences policy and decision-making
• Bring a distinct voice and point of view to your reporting, grounded in rigorous reporting and editorial standards

Who You Are

• A fast-moving, self-directed reporter who thrives on deadlines and juggling multiple stories with at least three years of reporting experience or equivalent experience around politics, policy, or nonprofits
• Strong interest in or experience covering money in politics, influence, or accountability
• Demonstrated ability to produce clean, accurate, and engaging stories on deadline, including writing daily articles as needed
• Comfortable working with data, documents, and public records
• Curious, skeptical, and persistent in pursuing difficult stories
• Comfortable in a startup environment and ready to contribute to a collaborative newsroom workflow
• Digitally savvy and eager to experiment with new tools, including AI

Nice to Have

• Experience with campaign finance or lobbying databases
• Investigative reporting experience (FOIA/public records requests)
• Data skills (Excel, SQL, or similar tools)
• Experience covering state and national politics.

Editorial Approach

We value reporting that is not only rigorous and accurate, but also readable and distinctive. Reporters are encouraged to develop their own voice and approach, and to experiment with structure and storytelling—while maintaining high standards of fairness, clarity, and evidence.

Compensation

• Salary range: $72,000 to $108,000, based on experience, with potential to grow and advance in a startup environment
• Benefits: health and paid time off, including during the initial review period

Why This Role

Money in politics is one of the most powerful—and least transparent—forces shaping public life. This role offers the chance to produce high-impact accountability journalism, uncover underreported stories, break news, and help readers understand how financial power translates into political outcomes.