About the role
Harbourline Gazette is a fictional regional daily, and this sample listing illustrates a field reporter role on a democracy beat. The reporter would cover how elections are run in the region, from the offices that register voters to the meetings where polling places are chosen, and explain what it all means for residents.
The role suits someone who likes public records, enjoys sitting through long local meetings and can turn a dry agenda item into a story that readers care about.
What you will do
- Attend county and city meetings, review agendas and minutes and report on decisions that affect how people vote.
- File public-records requests, track their progress and use the results to build accurate, specific stories.
- Travel across the region to meet election staff, poll workers and residents, including in smaller communities that rarely see a reporter.
- Explain complicated rules, deadlines and procedures in plain language and with clear examples.
- Work with a photographer or take your own photos when needed, following the newsroom's ethics policy on consent and captions.
- Keep clear notes and a source log so that every fact in a story can be checked later.
What we are looking for
- Reporting experience in local government, courts or politics, whether at a student, community or professional outlet.
- A record of fair, non-partisan coverage and a willingness to include voices from across the community.
- Comfort with public-records law at a general level, and the patience to follow a request through to the end.
- Reliable transport and willingness to travel within the region on a regular basis.
- Good judgement about sensitive subjects such as voter privacy and misinformation.
How the team works
The role is hybrid. The reporter spends part of the week at the Gazette's regional hub for planning meetings with editors and the rest in the field or working from home. Editors set weekly priorities but expect reporters to bring their own story ideas, especially from records and meetings that others overlook.
A small investigations unit sits nearby and often draws on field reporters' records work. There is a travel stipend in this sample listing to help cover regular reporting trips.
Pay and conditions
The pay range in this listing, $78,000 to $92,000 for a full-time role, is illustrative and was written for this launch edition. It does not describe a real salary at a real newspaper.
Hybrid working means a few days a week in the hub, with the remainder flexible around the meeting calendar. A real listing would spell out expenses, mileage, equipment and any union coverage. Candidates with disabilities are invited to discuss adjustments for travel, meetings or equipment.