Real Estate & Development Reporter

Hearst Magazines; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin American-Statesman seeks an experienced Real Estate and Development Reporter to cover Austin real estate—home sales, office and multifamily growth, and policy shaping development in one of Texas’ fastest-growing regions.

The ideal candidate has at least five years of daily journalism experience and three years in business, real estate or growth coverage, a digital-first mindset, strong SEO, and data-analysis skills.

Qualifications

• At least five years of daily journalism experience and three years in business, real estate or growth and development coverage.
• Digital-first mindset with strong SEO, headline writing and audience instincts.
• Ability to juggle breaking news with ambitious enterprise and analysis that connects the dots for readers.
• Experience with public records and market data: building permits, market reports, zoning, deeds and plats.
• Adept at using social platforms to track companies, officials and community conversations.
• Track record of source development in public/private companies and earnings/SEC filings.

Responsibilities

• Break news and deliver exclusive enterprise on sales, leases, developments and market trends in Austin real estate.
• Write 3–5 stories per week, from breaking news to enterprise and investigations.
• Surface trends by mining data from municipalities, courts, agencies and real estate sources.
• Develop sources among developers, builders, financiers, officials and community groups.
• Collaborate with Audience/Multimedia teams on social video and community engagement.
• Collaborate with Data team on graphics, maps and data visualization.
• Develop newsletters, databases, guides and other reader tools for buyers and renters.
• Identify opportunities to turn reporting into useful tools like property databases and maps.

Job description

Real Estate and Development Reporter, Austin American-Statesman

The Austin American-Statesman is seeking an experienced reporter to cover Austin real estate — from home sales and residential trends to office, industrial, retail and multifamily development, occupancy and rent, as well as the policies shaping growth in one of the fastest-growing regions in the state and nation. The best candidate will be hungry to get scoops, write complex stories in ways that resonate with readers, and bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the beat.

What will you do?

• As a member of the regional Business team, this reporter will break news and deliver exclusive enterprise on sales, leases, developments and market trends in residential and commercial real estate. They will produce multi-platform stories, including articles, social video, data-rich interactives, newsletter content and more.
• Pitch and write from three to five stories a week, ranging from breaking news to enterprise and investigations.
• Surface trends by mining data from a broad range of sources: area municipalities, courts, state agencies, real estate associations, brokers and banks.
• Develop a network of sources among developers, builders, financiers, government officials, neighborhood groups and others who impact or are impacted by development.
• Use audience and performance data to help determine story selection.
• Collaborate with the Audience and Multimedia teams on social video and community engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Regional Data team on stories that are best told with graphics, maps and other forms of data visualization.
• Develop recurring newsletters, databases, guides and other products that help readers make decisions about buying, renting, investing and living in Central Texas.
• Identify opportunities to turn reporting into useful tools such as searchable property databases, development trackers, market explainers, calculators, maps and alerts.
• Represent the Statesman at industry events, public meetings, community gatherings and professional forums, while building new sources and audience relationships.

What will it take to be successful?

• At least five years of daily journalism experience and three years in business, real estate or growth and development coverage.
• A digital-first mindset with strong SEO, headline writing and audience instincts.
• The ability to juggle breaking news with ambitious enterprise and analysis that connects the dots for readers and influences policy discussions.
• Experience working with public records and market data: building permits, market reports, state development filings, zoning cases, deed and plat records, and the ability to convert such data into clear, compelling stories.
• Adept at using social platforms to track companies, officials and community conversations.
• Track record of source development in publicly traded, closely held and private companies.
• Experience covering earnings reports and other SEC filings.
• Ability to collaborate in a fast-paced environment with visuals, data and audience teams across Hearst Texas newsrooms.
• A willingness to think beyond the daily story — developing projects, useful reader products and new distribution strategies that expand the impact of the beat.

This position reports to the Austin Business Editor as part of a Hearst Texas Business news staff in Austin and San Antonio. The department also covers technology, energy, utilities, auto manufacturing, labor, trade, aerospace, cybersecurity, insurance, retail, tourism, economic development and the region’s major companies and industries. Among the companies of focus are Tesla, Dell, Cisco, Oracle, Valero, USAA, SpaceX, Boeing, Samsung, H E B and Whataburger.

About The Austin American-Statesman:

The Austin American-Statesman has been the leading source of news and information for Central Texas since 1871, serving a dynamic and fast-growing region anchored by the capital city of Texas. Austin is known for its vibrant tech industry, rich cultural heritage, influential government institutions and creative spirit. The Statesman's award-winning journalists provide in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to Austinites — from local government and business to education, the environment and Austin’s ever-evolving music and cultural scenes. With a strong focus on accountability journalism and investigative reporting, the Statesman plays a critical role in informing and engaging its community.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP represents a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications including the Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, 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 [e-mail]. 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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