KFF is seeking a Washington Health Policy Reporter to cover health policymaking in Washington. The ideal candidate knows Congress, the regulatory system, K Street, and health policy and can write big stories with clarity, perspective, and authority about how Washington shapes health care for millions of Americans.
The journalist we’re looking for is energized and inquisitive. This is a shoe-leather job — we want you to spend your time in the halls of Congress and inside regulatory agencies, building source relationships and unearthing angles that others may lack the time, resources, or know-how to tackle. You should be enterprising and collaboratively minded; we want someone who can spot the kernel of a story or grab a resonant voice not only for their own work, but also for their colleagues around the country.
What You’ll Do
- Report and write at least two stories a month on how people in Washington are changing U.S. health care and helping or harming patients. We’ll expect a mix of quick-turn enterprise pieces off the news and deeper dives built on sourcing. You might also work a project into the mix, from time to time.
- Cover news events around town as assigned by your editors, such as news conferences and congressional hearings. We might ask for a spot news story occasionally, but more importantly, we want you to stay ahead of trends and developments so that we can develop enterprise ideas.
- Contribute to your colleagues’ stories. We have journalists in more than a dozen states who write about the impact of decisions in Washington on people where they live. You can help make their stories stronger.
- Wave the flag. You’ll be an ambassador for KFF Health News around town, showing people in power that we’re covering them – and that if they’ve got a good health policy story to tell, we’re the place to come.
Above all, you should share our organizational mission: people-first journalism. KFF Health News is an editorially independent program of KFF, the nation’s premier health information nonprofit. Since the 1990s, KFF has been devoted to empowering people through information about the complex world of health policy, as well as amplifying their voices and experiences.
We have a lot to offer you in return. KFF values its people. We are the nation’s largest health policy newsroom (and growing), staffed by smart, reputable, and collegial journalists who came here from all corners of the industry. Our KFF colleagues are leading health researchers, pollsters, and policy experts. The fact that we offer our stories to other outlets for free allows our work to reach as large and diverse an audience as possible; it also enables us to pursue stories on their merits rather than needing to cover the daily drumbeat.
Minimum Desired Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- 3+ years’ experience covering policy or politics (or ideally, both) in Washington, DC; familiarity with the legislative and regulatory processes and how they intersect
- A passionate interest in covering health care and science, if not expertise in health policy
- Excellent reporting and writing skills — but also an understanding that everyone needs an editor
- Bonus points for experience with data, coding tools such as Python or R, and with public records
- Must play nice with others. While KFF Health News has beats and assignments, like any newsroom, we work collaboratively with little tolerance for turf battles
- A reasonable sense of humor
- Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and preferably, Word Press
- Authorization to work in the United States
The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
This full-time position will be based in KFF’s Washington, DC office, located downtown near Metro Center. KFF is currently working a hybrid schedule and requires all staff to work in the office a minimum of two days a week although we’d prefer this reporter spend their time on the Hill or elsewhere in the district.
Compensation
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Compensation includes an outstanding benefits package equivalent in value to approximately fifty percent of base salary including a generous and immediately vested defined contribution plan and zero-premium health coverage.
The annual salary range for the Washington Health Policy Reporter position is between $90,000 and $120,000. Our job titles and salary ranges may span more than one career level, and the salary offered to a candidate will be determined based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, job-related knowledge and skill set, depth of experience, certifications and/or degrees, and our practice of upholding salary equity within the organization.
To apply, go here.
