Kansas City is at a pivotal moment. Decisions made at City Hall shape everything from housing affordability and neighborhood development to public safety, transportation and economic opportunity. Yet local government has become increasingly difficult for residents to follow and understand.
The Beacon is making a significant investment in local government accountability reporting because we believe engaged and informed communities depend on clear, independent reporting that explains how decisions are made, who influences them and how they affect people's lives.
We're seeking an experienced journalist to become our Senior City Hall Reporter, focused exclusively on Kansas City, Missouri. The successful candidate will help set the agenda for local government accountability coverage at The Beacon and develop deep expertise on one of the region's most consequential beats.
This reporter will follow the people, policies, power structures and public dollars that shape the city while helping residents understand not only what is happening at City Hall, but why it matters.
This is an opportunity to build deep expertise on one of the region's most important beats and produce accountability journalism that informs public conversation, strengthens civic participation and helps Kansas Citians better understand their local government. You'll have the time and support to pursue ambitious reporting, follow stories over months rather than days and illuminate issues that might otherwise go uncovered.
The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives on identifying stories others miss, developing deep sources and holding powerful institutions accountable through fair, rigorous and independent reporting.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Produce a weekly City Hall newsletter that synthesizes reporting, tracks decisions over time, and helps residents follow the arc of policy debates, votes, and implementation.
- Publish at least one accountability story every two weeks, grounded in meetings, hearings, public records, sustained beat reporting, and the lived experiences of affected communities.
- Complete at least one investigative project or series annually, with support from editors and, when appropriate, external partners.
- Regularly file Sunshine Law and FOIA requests, analyze public records, and connect policy decisions to real‑world outcomes for Kansas Citians.
- Maintain a specific focus on Kansas City, Missouri City Hall and local government accountability reporting, while monitoring regional implications and cross‑jurisdictional issues.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Collaborate closely with other reporters at The Beacon on City Hall coverage and other local and state government issues that affect Kansas City.
- Collaborate closely with Product, Audience, and Operations teams to grow and improve the City Hall newsletter, strengthen audience engagement, and ensure reporting reaches and serves Kansas Citians effectively.
- Develop expertise in Kansas City, Missouri City Hall and local government accountability, serving as a trusted guide for readers navigating complex civic issues.
- Develop deep sourcing inside City Hall, across city departments, among community leaders, and within neighborhoods most affected by local government decisions.
- Identify, research, pitch, report, and write stories with sophistication, clarity, and impact.
- Field occasional assignments from your editor, but expect to pursue mostly self‑generated stories.
- Build story packages on The Beacon’s WordPress site.
- Track source demographics and diversify sourcing across race, class, geography, and ideology.
- Find, analyze, and visualize data to uncover overlooked stories.
- Represent The Beacon at occasional events and in appearances on local media outlets.
- Participate in community engagement events and use community feedback to inform coverage.
Preferred Qualifications
If you don’t check every box but believe you’d excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. Building a diverse staff is essential to our mission, and we value potential as much as experience.
- Powerful reporting and writing skills, proven news judgment, and a strong commitment to journalistic ethics.
- A record of producing impactful accountability or investigative reporting.
- Familiarity with Kansas City, Missouri, the region’s political landscape, and local government systems.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and pursue stories independently while collaborating with reporters and editors.
- A desire to diversify sources and reflect a wide range of demographics and perspectives.
- Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple long‑term projects.
- Enthusiasm for independent, nonprofit news and collaboration with partner outlets.
- Passion for community‑centered journalism.
- Familiarity with public records, data sets, and visualizations.
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of professional journalism experience, including substantial experience covering local government, public policy, accountability reporting or investigative reporting.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $85,000–$110,000 annually, depending on experience and reporting portfolio.
- Health Coverage: 100% of employee health, vision, and dental premiums; partial dependent coverage.
- Paid Time Off: Holidays plus progressive PTO accrual (vacation and sick time combined).
- Remote Work: Work from home with occasional in‑person meetings.
- Parental Leave: Paid parental leave.
- Cell Phone Reimbursement: Up to $60 per month.
- Life Insurance: $50,000 employer‑paid policy; supplemental options available.
- Disability Insurance: 100% employer‑paid short‑ and long‑term disability.
- Retirement: 401(k) plan available.
- Location: This reporter will be based in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Organization
The Beacon cultivates engaged and informed communities through accessible reporting and active community engagement on crucial local subjects, anchored by a sustainable nonprofit revenue model.
This position is supported through philanthropic funding from Progress Kansas City as part of The Beacon's commitment to strengthening local government accountability reporting. The Beacon maintains full editorial independence over hiring decisions, story selection, reporting and publication.
Apply
To apply, submit your resume, cover letter and three to five reporting clips via Indeed. You may also send application materials directly to .
In your cover letter, tell us about a piece of accountability or investigative reporting you're particularly proud of and why it mattered.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Pay: $85,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Kansas City, MO 64114
