Politico seeks a food and ag policy reporter

Politico is seeking a versatile reporter to anchor our food & agriculture policy newsletter and master a beat that shapes the lives of billions of people around the world. This is one of the most dynamic and exciting policy areas in our Washington newsroom, tackling a wide range of deeply consequential issues including nutrition, climate change, rural development, immigration, forest management, and the future of the world’s food supply.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate an ability to break news on administration policy, the next farm bill, food safety, ag companies’ lobbying efforts and the challenges facing American farmers. You may go deep into pesticide exposure risks one day and explain government regulation over the meatpacking sector the next. Your primary focus will be chronicling this important beat for our influential audience in the public and private sectors. But you’ll also carve out time to report and write high-impact enterprise stories for our broader audience across all POLITICO platforms.

Journalistic experience in covering the farm bill, Congress, federal policy and/or agribusiness is helpful but not essential. Experience contributing to or developing newsletters is a plus. At least three years of professional journalism experience is preferred. Please include in your application a resume, a cover letter summarizing your interest and qualifications for the beat, and six to eight journalistic writing samples (accessible links or PDFs).

What You’ll Need:

• Writing chops. Flair and style are required; people will be paying to read your writing. The ability to write analytically is a must. You’ll need to write with authority but not opinion.
• Initiative. A demonstrated track record of developing a network of sources both in and out of Washington and on Capitol Hill is critical. You’ll be cultivating a community of highly engaged readers in Morning Agriculture, on social media and other platforms.
• Versatility. Our best newsletter writers deliver a blend of scoops, savvy analysis and smart aggregation. They also write breaking news items for subscribers and a general audience, as quick hits and deep-dive enterprise pieces.
• Team spirit. You must be able to work as part of a team and collaborate on beat coverage and in-depth pieces.

To apply, go here.