The Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com is seeking a knowledgeable and driven reporter to cover Kentucky government and politics, focusing on the General Assembly, the governor and statewide elected officials. This role is crucial for providing our readers with insightful, timely and accurate reporting on political developments, legislative sessions and policy changes that impact the citizens of Kentucky.

Kentucky presents a rich and varied landscape for political journalism, characterized by its political diversity, where conservative and liberal ideologies often clash in Frankfort, providing a dynamic backdrop for reporting on electoral battles and shifts in political alignment.

Additionally, Kentucky's economy, influenced by such traditional industries as coal mining, bourbon and agriculture, intersects with pressing social issues such as drug addiction and healthcare access, offering journalists a wide array of investigative and human interest stories that highlight the impact of economic policies on the lives of its residents.

Accountability reporting sits at the center of this role, and this journalist will produce a regular cadence of stories that pressure-test the promises and proclamations made by the public officials in power. You should have a proven track record of generating ahead-of-the-curve story ideas, cultivating the sources necessary to deliver exclusive reporting in a competitive landscape and the skills needed to write timely, authoritative, relevant stories. 

McClatchy Media’s journalists are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage artificial intelligence and other automation to enhance and elevate their work and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on source-building and high-quality, deeply reported journalism.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive coverage of the Kentucky General Assembly's sessions, including key legislation, debates and committee meetings.
• Report on the activities and decisions of the governor and other statewide elected officials, analyzing their implications on public policy and governance.
• Develop and maintain contacts within government offices and political parties to enhance news gathering and access to information.
• Write in-depth features, analysis pieces and timely news stories that engage and inform our audience.
• Collaborate across teams to plan and execute coverage of elections, political events and major announcements.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Political Science or a related field.
• Proven experience in journalism, with a strong background in political/government reporting.
• Excellent writing, interviewing and reporting skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex political information, financial records and legal documents.
• Familiarity with digital journalism tools and platforms, including social media.
• A demonstrated commitment to breaking news, quick-turn accountability and enterprise journalism.
• Experience with public records requests. 
• An unwavering commitment to accurate, nonpartisan, ethical reporting.
• Knowledge of local, state and national politics, legislative procedures and experience with campaign coverage.
• A willingness to learn and use AI to streamline your workflow.

Work Environment:

• This position requires regular attendance at political events, sessions of the General Assembly and press conferences, which may involve working outside normal business hours.
• The role can be based in Lexington or Frankfort, with frequent local travel to government offices and event locations required.

What we’ll bring:
As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. 

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com. 

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month,The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

Salary/Compensation: $28.85 - $38.46 per hour