Political Enterprise Reporter, Money & Power

Application Instructions

Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.

Join the future of news

We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

The Washington Post is seeking an aggressive, deeply sourced and narrative-minded reporter to cover money, influence and power in politics — one of the most consequential and under-scrutinized stories shaping American democracy.

This reporter will lead coverage of the flow of money through campaigns, political organizations, advocacy groups and influence networks, illuminating how financial power shapes elections, policymaking and governance. The beat spans campaign finance, dark money, lobbying, political nonprofits and the broader ecosystem of donors, consultants and operatives who influence the political system.

We are looking for a journalist who can break news, drive accountability reporting and turn complex financial and regulatory systems into riveting storytelling. The ideal candidate is as comfortable working with data, documents and disclosures as they are with writing scene dispatches from embassy parties. This is a high-impact role that requires persistence, creativity and a strong sense of mission.

This position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom.

What Motivates You:

• You are driven to uncover how money shapes political power.
• You are curious about the networks, incentives and systems operating behind the scenes.
• You thrive on accountability reporting and following complex paper trails.
• You enjoy translating dense financial and legal information into clear, compelling journalism.
• You are competitive and eager to break news on a high-stakes beat.
  
  

How You’ll Support the Mission:

• Deliver scoops on campaign finance, political spending and influence networks across national and state politics.
• Investigate the role of donors, political organizations, lobbyists and advocacy groups in shaping elections and policy outcomes.
• Analyze campaign finance filings, disclosures and other public records to uncover trends, patterns and hidden relationships.
• Produce ambitious enterprise and accountability stories that reveal how money flows through the political system.
• Explain complex financial, legal and regulatory frameworks in ways that are accessible to a broad audience.
• Develop and maintain sources across campaigns, political organizations, watchdog groups and regulatory bodies.
• Collaborate with data reporters, visual teams and editors to produce impactful, multi-format storytelling.
• Track emerging trends in political spending and influence, helping shape coverage that anticipates where power is shifting.
  
  

The Skills and Experiences You Bring:

• A track record of breaking news and producing impactful enterprise reporting on politics, business, investigations or related fields.
• Experience working with data, public records and financial disclosures.
• Strong source-building skills and the ability to cultivate relationships across political and regulatory spheres.
• Demonstrated ability to explain complex systems clearly and accurately.
• A sharp instinct for accountability stories and uncovering hidden dynamics.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to work quickly under deadline pressure.
• A collaborative mindset and experience working across teams to elevate coverage.
  
  

Interested candidates should upload a résumé, cover letter and three examples of their work (as PDFs) to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by Apr. 30 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Senior Editor for Political Investigations Patrick Caldwell, Deputy Politics & Government Editor Emily Rauhala and Politics & Government Editor Nick Baumann.

The salary range for this position is $137,300 - $228,900. The actual starting salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.

Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation And Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
• Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
• Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and two personal days
• 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
• Robust mental health resources
• Backup care and caregiver concierge services
• Gender affirming services
• Pet insurance
• Free Post digital subscription
• Leadership and career development programs
  
  

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.