What are the responsibilities and job description for the Congressional Reporter position at SEMAFOR?
Who We Are
Semafor is a global news platform for an increasingly complex world in which consumers are overwhelmed by too many news sources and unsure what to trust. We are building Semafor to enable world-class journalists to deliver reporting and insights with rigor in journalistic forms that ensure a new level of transparency. Our editors and reporters distill the most important stories from all over in formats that uncover the forces shaping the stories, explain the interests behind polarizing narratives, and replenish the stock of shared facts. As a global platform, Semafor recognizes that smart people can disagree and that informed readers need to understand alternative points of view from competing centers of power and culture in a multi-polar world. Want to join us? Read on.
About The Role
Semafor is seeking a proven, news-hungry Washington reporter to join our growing DC team. This reporter will cover Capitol Hill with a focus on the political, policy, and legislative priorities of the US House, and its engagement with the Trump administration across all of the above.
This is a high-impact role for an ambitious journalist eager to break agenda-setting stories and help define how Semafor covers power in Washington. You will be a core member of our editorial team, contributing to Semafor’s daily report, our DC briefing, and our live journalism events.
What You’ll Do
Semafor offers a Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy to our full-time, salaried employees who may take paid time off as-needed without a prescribed limit or defined balance.
Semafor, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Semafor, Inc. will consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Semafor is a global news platform for an increasingly complex world in which consumers are overwhelmed by too many news sources and unsure what to trust. We are building Semafor to enable world-class journalists to deliver reporting and insights with rigor in journalistic forms that ensure a new level of transparency. Our editors and reporters distill the most important stories from all over in formats that uncover the forces shaping the stories, explain the interests behind polarizing narratives, and replenish the stock of shared facts. As a global platform, Semafor recognizes that smart people can disagree and that informed readers need to understand alternative points of view from competing centers of power and culture in a multi-polar world. Want to join us? Read on.
About The Role
Semafor is seeking a proven, news-hungry Washington reporter to join our growing DC team. This reporter will cover Capitol Hill with a focus on the political, policy, and legislative priorities of the US House, and its engagement with the Trump administration across all of the above.
This is a high-impact role for an ambitious journalist eager to break agenda-setting stories and help define how Semafor covers power in Washington. You will be a core member of our editorial team, contributing to Semafor’s daily report, our DC briefing, and our live journalism events.
What You’ll Do
- Report and write original, agenda-setting stories on Capitol Hill, focusing on the US House, including leadership dynamics, internal party politics, legislative strategy, and policymaking.
- Closely track the House’s relationship with the Senate, the White House and federal agencies, particularly around major political and policy initiatives.
- Cultivate and maintain strong sources on Capitol Hill and beyond, including in leadership offices, rank-and-file members, committees, the White House, and federal agencies.
- Identify emerging political and policy trends before they break into the mainstream conversation.
- Contribute regularly to Semafor’s flagship daily report and DC briefing, bringing insight, scoops, and sharp analysis.
- Participate in and help shape Semafor’s live journalism events, panels, and interviews in Washington.
- Collaborate with editors and reporters across beats to produce distinctive, high-impact journalism.
- Approximately 3 or more years of professional reporting experience, ideally covering Capitol Hill.
- A demonstrated ability to break news and build sources in Washington, including on the Hill, at the White House, or within federal agencies.
- Strong news judgment and a sharp instinct for identifying the next big political or policy story.
- A versatile reporter who can move beyond the story-of-the-day and spot broader themes shaping Washington.
- Clear, authoritative writing style with the ability to explain complex policy and political dynamics to a sophisticated audience.
- Intellectual curiosity, ambition, and the drive to thrive in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial newsroom.
- Openness to approaching coverage from different angles and bringing fresh perspectives to established Washington beats.
Semafor offers a Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy to our full-time, salaried employees who may take paid time off as-needed without a prescribed limit or defined balance.
Semafor, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Semafor, Inc. will consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.