About this role
Description
Modern Healthcare is seeking an enterprising journalist to cover policy and politics that affect the healthcare sector for an audience that expects sharp reporting, clear analysis and real authority. This role sits at the center of our newsroom’s mission to break news, interpret complex developments and deliver journalism that moves conversations in the industries we cover.
The policy and politics reporter will track developments on Capitol Hill and the states and follow how policy affects the business of healthcare. The reporter will be expected to break news from Congress and build sources among lawmakers, aides and lobbyists. This beat demands someone who can build strong source networks, develop original story ideas and spot the signal in the noise across a rapidly changing landscape.
You’ll report fast, write cleanly and balance breaking coverage with deeper enterprise and analysis in formats including narrative stories, explainers and Q&A interviews. The reporter must be adept at working with colleagues to conceive multimedia presentations such as data visualizations.
We are a digital-first newsroom. You’ll publish throughout the day, contribute to newsletters, use analytics to understand audience behavior and collaborate across teams to shape coverage that resonates with the people who rely on us most.
This is a fast-paced role that requires initiative, accountability and a collaborative mindset. You’ll succeed by developing a strong command of your beat, maintaining steady communication with editors and consistently delivering reporting that stands out in a competitive news environment. This role uses modern digital and AI tools to accelerate research and reporting, but fundamentally relies on your judgment, sourcing and storytelling.
Location
Will work from your Washington-area home office with occasional travel to cover events.
What You’ll Do
• Break news and deliver scoops on healthcare policy and politics, with an emphasis on Congress but an eye on state and local policymaking.
• Collaborate with teammates covering healthcare regulation, healthcare providers and suppliers and health insurance companies.
• Report and write quick-turn stories, longer enterprise pieces and analytical coverage.
• Develop deep source relationships across key stakeholders.
• Track data, filings, market movements and industry shifts to surface stories before competitors do.
• Pitch ideas that reflect audience needs and anticipate how the story will evolve.
• Collaborate with editors, audience teams and colleagues across the newsroom.
• Contribute to newsletters, social media promotion and digital publishing workflows.
• Participate in Modern Healthcare events, panels, podcasts, award programs as needed.
• Stay attuned to trends, innovations and forces reshaping the healthcare business
What You Bring
• Degree in journalism or a related field or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of reporting experience.
• Proven ability to break news and develop reliable sources.
• Ability to write clean, concise, accurate copy on tight deadlines.
• Strong news judgment and curiosity, with the ability to “see the story” in complex material.
• Comfort operating in a digital-first environment and juggling multiple stories, updating as news evolves and collaborating with editors in real time.
• Ability to interpret data, financial documents, legislation, research and regulatory filings relevant to the beat.
• Comfort using digital tools including analytics platforms, research databases and AI-enabled search or transcription tools to support reporting and source development.
• Skill in generating enterprise ideas that illuminate trends and add depth beyond the headlines.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience covering healthcare, politics, Congress or related topics.
• Experience with newsletters, audience analytics, multimedia and/or event participation.
• A track record of stories that demonstrate both speed and depth.
This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
Pay Transparency Disclosure:
The estimated salary range for this position is $70,000 to $100,000.
The final salary offering will take into account a wide range of factors, including experience, accomplishments and location. The salary range provided should not be considered as a salary limit or cap. In addition to base salary, Crain also offers competitive benefits including retirement plan savings contributions and bonus opportunities based on individual and company performance.
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Brand Overview:
Modern Healthcare is the industry’s leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research and information. We report on important healthcare events and trends, as they happen, through our weekly print magazine, websites, e-newsletters, mobile products and events. Our readers use that information to make informed business decisions and lead their organizations to success. It’s for this reason that Modern Healthcare magazine is ranked No. 1 in readership among healthcare executives.
About Crain Communications:
Crain Communications is a leading business news and information company with a portfolio of 24 media brands that provide indispensable coverage and data for professionals globally and across sectors, including advertising, automotive, finance, healthcare, staffing, and workforce solutions. Many of Crain’s brands are the most influential media properties in the industries and communities they serve, including Ad Age, Automotive News, Pensions & Investments, Modern Healthcare, Staffing Industry Analysts, as well as Crain’s regional business brands. For more than a century, our dedication to deep sector expertise and journalistic integrity has enabled us to provide trusted insights across all our platforms, empowering today’s business leaders to make industry-shaping decisions. To learn more about Crain Communications, visit crain.com.
Environmental Demands
Where you work matters. The job posting will provide specific information on where and when your amazing work would be performed. Employee work location is determined by the needs of the specific team and may include on-site, hybrid or remote. Employee work location is subject to change.
- An “in-office” role would require the employee to come into the office most days with occasional flexibility to work remotely if tasks can be performed elsewhere and if the manager approves.
- A “remote” role would allow an employee to work from a home office that is in one of the states Crain does business in. We can only employ a remote / "work from home" employee if they reside in one of these states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, and Washington, DC.
- A “hybrid” role would be a mix of in-office and remote work. There may be a specified schedule for coming into the office or it could be at the discretion of the employee with the manager’s approval, subject to change.
- Employees who live within a reasonable commute distance from a Crain office are expected to work on-site 3 days per week.
Many positions will also include work done in “the field.” Depending on the role, this may include conducting in-person interviews, attending work-related events, meeting with sources or clients. Specifics will be noted in the job posting but are subject to change as a role evolves. Employees may be exposed to adverse environmental conditions, specifically during field work. Other typical job functions are performed under conditions such as those found in general office work.
Travel to cover news stories/events, meetings with clients, and to our geographically separated offices may be required. It is the nature of many positions to experience non-standard working hours and be on-call when needed for responding to email, meeting with clients, attending work-related events, story development or breaking news. Most employees perform work Monday through Friday, although early-morning, evening or weekend shifts may be required. Work schedule and travel requirements are subject to change as a role and needs evolve over time.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of many Crain jobs and are subject to change.
Physical activities will include frequent in-person or virtual interactions. For most positions, it is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods, perform computer-related tasks, and create/maintain documents within filing systems. Must have close visual acuity to perform an activity, such as preparing and analyzing reports and information, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, or extensive reading. The typical physical requirements are light work—exerting up to 25lbs of force occasionally and/or up to 10lbs of force frequently and may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion. Some positions will have additional physical requirements, including exerting up to 50lbs of force to move and/or carry equipment, supplies, files, or other materials as the role requires.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions and meet the environmental and physical demands of the role.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
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