Reporter, Iowa Capital Dispatch

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ); Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Vacation days

Personal leave

Volunteer time

Holidays

Cell phone stipend

Cell phone replacement

Fitness benefit

401K matching

Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Iowa Capitals Dispatch, part of States Newsroom, is seeking a reporter to cover Iowa politics and state government. You will produce daily and enterprise stories, take photos, and share content on social media while building a national political newsletter for States Newsroom.

The role emphasizes accountability reporting, source development, and public records requests to provide readers with in-depth coverage of state government and policy issues.

Qualifications

• At least three years of previous news reporting and/or editing experience (student journalism counts).
• Strong news judgment and flexibility.
• Ability to manage ongoing and short-term projects with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience shooting and producing vertical video is a plus.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on Iowa policy and elected officials.
• Contribute to the outlet's briefs section.
• Generate story ideas with the editor.
• Pursue story leads with self-direction and solid news judgment.
• Meet deadlines and communicate with the editor and colleagues.
• Collaborate with other reporters on projects and share research.
• Build and expand digital presence and amplify content on social media.
• Take photos and video to illustrate stories.

Skills

News reporting

Editing

Bilingual

Social media

Job description

Zip Code

Job ID: 74990

Job Views: 24

Location: Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Job Category: Online | New Media

Employment Type: Full time

Salary: 55,000.00 per year

Posted: 10.30.2026

Job Description

Join Iowa Capital Dispatch and give readers hard-hitting coverage that holds powerful people accountable. Iowa Capital Dispatch is an award-winning newsroom that covers politics, government, energy and agriculture, health care and other topics of statewide interest. We want a reporter who can write compelling news stories about Iowa politics and state government, how public money is spent, and the ways that policy decisions affect Iowans' lives. Part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news network, the Dispatch believes in empowering journalists to do powerful, ambitious work that informs people across the Hawkeye State. We aim to tell stories that aren't being told, to bring fresh perspectives to state issues and to amplify the voices of communities that have been marginalized. This Iowa-based reporter will provide coverage of the Iowa Legislature, governor’s office, the Iowa caucuses during the upcoming presidential race and other assignments for the Iowa Capital Dispatch. The reporter will produce daily and enterprise stories, take photos, and share content on social media, as well as produce a national political newsletter distributed through States Newsroom. The ideal candidate will know how to track trending topics and hold officials accountable through deep source building and public records requests. The reporting will take readers beyond press releases, providing a deeper understanding of the issues.

Job Responsibilities

• Produce regular, high-quality reporting on Iowa policy and elected officials
• Contribute regularly to outlet's briefs section
• Generate story ideas with the editor
• Pursue story leads, both self-generated and as assigned, with self-direction and solid news judgment
• Approach assignments on deadline with strong communication and follow through with the editor and colleagues
• Collaborate with other reporters on projects and to share research and pertinent knowledge when/if available
• Establish and expand digital media presence representing the outlet and use personal social media to amplify the site's content, presence and voice
• Take photos and video to illustrate and amplify stories

Compensation & Benefits

The minimum salary for this position is $55,000. Relocation stipend will be considered. Our generous benefits package includes:

• Premium-free platinum health care for employees (and 72% - 75% of medical premiums covered for qualified dependents)
• 4 weeks of vacation per year
• 2 weeks of personal leave per year
• 20 hours of paid volunteer time per year
• 11 paid holidays per year
• $75 monthly cell phone reimbursement
• $200 cell phone replacement benefit every two years
• $75 monthly fitness benefit
• 401K with up to 3% match
• 12 weeks of parental leave
• Full-service EAP

About Our Culture

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels - from quick hit to investigative - but we also aim to be supportive, welcoming, and positive. We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat. States Newsroom's mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission. At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.

Job Requirements

We're looking for candidates with at least three years previous news reporting and/or editing experience (student journalism counts), sound news judgment, flexibility, and the ability to manage ongoing and short-term projects with strong attention to detail and accuracy. Experience shooting and producing vertical video is a plus. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. States Newsroom journalists are expected to produce at least four posts per week.

Authorization to work in the United States is required. At this time, States Newsroom is unable to provide visa sponsorship.