Multimedia Political & Government Reporter (Part-time/Freelance & Full-Time available)

Multimedia Reporter (Politics & Elections) NM.NEWS | Albuquerque or remote Job Status: Part-time (20 hours/week with daily M-F assignments) or Full-time (40 hour) applicants considered  Salary: $22 - $24/hr. ($45,000-$50,000 annual salary, or hourly equivalent for part-time position(s), annual depending on experience and tied to local living wage
The New Mexico News Group is seeking a reporter to lead coverage of politics and elections in New Mexico. While all team members contribute to coverage as needed, this position is designated as the lead for politics, elections and state government. It is a compliment to, not competition for, existing nonprofit coverage such as NM In Depth and Source NM. The group is seeking to hire a full-time reporter but may consider multiple part-time or freelance positions for the right candidates. Self-starting candidates can be successful working remotely, but the majority of our team chooses to work in one of our newsrooms at least one day per week. The position is based out of our Albuquerque newsroom providing coverage for our network of publications (The Paper (ABQ & Rio Rancho), Santa Fe Reporter, Corrales Comment, Route 66 Independent (Edgewood & Moriarty) and eastern New Mexico including the Roswell Daily Record). You’ll work directly with an editor and digital news producer who coach reporters on digital content strategy, multimedia storytelling, and data-driven reporting to ensure your work has maximum impact.

As a statewide newsgroup, the right candidate will have a rare opportunity to shape political and election coverage statewide at a thriving local news organization. You will enjoy the creative freedom of an independent newsroom while benefiting from a modern tech stack to focus on creating great content across social, web, newsletter and print. Your work will gain statewide reach through our partnership with a larger news group.

What You'll Build

• Cover state politics, elections, our Congressional delegation and state government, including the legislature and interim legislative issues.

• Develop enterprise stories that highlight decision makers and the impact of decisions on the individual and family level in New Mexico.

• A signature visual style for our politics brand, supported by a network of local editors and reporters in a collaborative editorial team.

• Create engaging, platform-specific content for the web and social media channels.

• Assist with podcasts, video interviews, and multimedia storytelling projects.

• Build strong relationships with agency leaders, elected leaders and candidates, and campaign and official spokespersons.

• Collaborate with editors and team members to deliver timely, accurate, and compelling journalism.

What We're Looking For Successful applicants know New Mexico politics (or have held a position leading political coverage in other markets and can easily adapt) and can explain the responsibilities of key government offices and how laws and regulations are enacted. Existing journalists with experience covering local government, state government or elections are encouraged to apply. Retired or semi-retired journalists or public information officers with knowledge of journalism standards are encouraged to apply.

Our civic journalism approach to covering politics begins with how a decision impacts New Mexicans and ends with how readers can use the story to engage in the process.  Instead of reporting on a new oil and gas regulation already in place, we report on why the agency chose to undertake this process and how readers can participate through comment or action. Our elections coverage is designed to provide analysis and context to endorsements or campaign financing, instead of just reporting funds raised or endorsements earned. The right candidate loves politics and believes the best stories are about people. We are looking for someone endlessly curious about new tools—from leveraging AI to analyze reports  to using social media video to build personal and publication brands. You will be part of a team that uses audience analytics to call audibles when reader interest shifts, focusing on high-quality local information that connects neighbors.

Qualifications include:

• Experience in journalism/communications, specifically in a newsroom or nonprofit advocacy organization. A four-year college degree is not required for experienced candidates. (Recent and early-career graduates with strong portfolios are encouraged to apply).

• Strong news judgment, sharp headline-writing skills, and commitment to clear, concise prose ("omitting needless words") and familiarity with AP style and journalism ethics.

• On-camera confidence, specifically for short-form social media video content and ability to pre-write background content to meet fast-paced deadlines.

• Ability to shoot basic photography and video; familiarity with digital publishing platforms and analytics.

• Collaborative mindset to work alongside photographers, freelancers, and newsroom peers.

• A supportive, coaching-first culture: You’ll work with experienced editors who prioritize your growth, offering dedicated time for pitch development, multimedia training, and digital strategy.

About why & why work with us? The New Mexico News Group is the state’s largest publishing group—a network of 8 locally owned news outlets named one of New Mexico's fastest-growing companies two years in a row. We are investing in filling news gaps by building an ecosystem of specialized statewide beat reporters and local community beats. Our social and online presence includes the state’s largest subscribed email news list and a fast-growing digital video program to expand traditional newspaper coverage to reach new readers across multiple platforms. As a part of a statewide group, local reporters have statewide reach through network papers and syndication partners.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $22 - $24/hr. ($45,000-$50,000 annual salary, or hourly equivalent for part-time position(s), annual depending on experience and tied to local living wage

• Reimbursement for health insurance premiums

• Generous leave policy, including unlimited personal leave for journalists who consistently meet deadlines

How to Apply Please submit the following materials via our online application portal at nm.news

• Online application

• Resume

• 3 to 5 portfolio clips/PDFs (writing samples, sports coverage preferred)

• Links to multimedia, video, or photography work (if available)