Austin American-Statesman · 8 hours ago
Accountability Reporter
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
3+ years expAustin American-Statesman is seeking a tenacious and inquisitive Accountability Reporter with a passion for revealing harm and producing impactful journalism. This role involves investigating abuses of power and conflicts of interest, combining fast-paced daily coverage with deeper watchdog reporting.
Information ServicesMedia and EntertainmentNews
Responsibilities
Scrutinize Power: Hold elected officials, government agencies, businesses, and institutions accountable for their actions
Uncover Hidden Truths: Reveal information others may want to keep hidden through persistent reporting and public records requests
Serve the Public Interest: Center stories on issues that affect underserved communities, including housing, public safety, and climate change
Analyze Data and Records: Examine budgets, policies, and databases to uncover patterns and provide context
Cultivate Sources: Build a diverse network of contacts, from policymakers to everyday residents
Tell Stories Across Platforms: Produce clear, compelling journalism for both digital and print audiences, often on deadline
Write quick-turn daily stories on high-impact news as it develops in a rapidly growing city and county
Develop original enterprise and watchdog stories by cultivating expertise in local government and policy, and connecting policy decisions to residents’ lived experiences
Use the Texas Open Meetings Act, the Texas Public Information Act, and database reporting to hold public officials accountable
Build a diverse network of sources, from policymakers and community advocates to everyday residents
Employ multimedia storytelling—photography, video, audio, graphics—to expand the reach and impact of stories
Translate complicated issues into accessible reporting that shows readers why local government matters
Collaborate with other reporters and editors on major coverage including elections, breaking news, crises and investigations
Maintain an active driver’s license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance
Qualification
Required
A track record of impactful journalism
Strong investigative and data analysis skills
The ability to make complex issues understandable to a general audience
Experience in watchdog reporting, explanatory journalism and deep source cultivation
An active driver's license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance
Preferred
Three or more years of journalism experience, preferably covering politics, public policy, or government
Proven ability to gather information from diverse sources, including databases, public records, and social media
Proficiency in interpreting budgets, policy documents, and other public records
Demonstrated skill in cultivating sources and breaking news
Strong writing skills, with a track record of producing clean, concise, compelling copy on deadline
Skilled at juggling multiple projects under deadline pressure
Strong commitment to fairness, accuracy, and journalistic standards
Spanish language proficiency is a plus
Familiarity with Austin or Texas politics is a plus but not required
Benefits
Support for ambitious, enterprise and investigative work.
A collaborative newsroom that values creativity and impact.
Competitive salary and benefits.
Company
Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman is a prominent primary media firm that provides sources of daily news.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2025-02-19Acquired
Leadership Team
Eddie Burns
Retired - CFO
Recent News
2025-03-06
Company data provided by crunchbase