Reuters seeks an enterprising journalist to join our team of reporters covering the finances of U.S. state and local governments and the $3.8 trillion municipal bond market, which raises cash for everything from roads to public worker pension plans. The beat sits at the nexus of finance and politics and offers the chance to write stories that will reach a wide and varied audience. We are looking for an ideas machine, someone ready to pitch stories that get noticed internally and externally. The successful candidate will also be able to cut through the financial language of a bond offering document to give readers an understanding of the real-world impact of political decisions.
There’s no shortage of major stories to pursue. How will the municipal bond market, long favored by wealthy U.S. investors for tax-free income, cope with possible tax reform by the Trump Administration? What will happen to the budgets of municipalities that pursue “sanctuary city” immigration policies? Can Illinois and Chicago, plagued by political infighting, avert fiscal disaster? Can California really manage to build high-speed rail? Can Puerto Rico extricate itself from a $70 billion debt hole while still maintaining a stable society for its 3.5 million U.S. citizens?
In addition to pursuing his or her own stories, the U.S. Public Finance Reporter will need to collaborate with a small, collegial team with members based across the United States. Some travel is required as are flexible working times given that municipal meetings sometimes conclude late in the day. Applicants should have at least three years of experience as a journalist and preferably some background in financial news. Knowledge of fixed income markets and public policy is a plus.
Applications for this position should be made through the following link: https://toc.taleo.net/careersection/1/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=JREQ079600
