Senior Staff Writer, Energy Newsletters (Contractor)

About the Position

CQ Roll Call is searching for an energetic and inquisitive experienced journalist for a multifaceted role covering energy and environmental policy through news stories and partly spent co-writing a daily newsletter that tells a sophisticated audience what they need to know to start their day. 

This is an ideal position for a journalist looking to continue a career writing and reporting about Congress. The job involves working evenings and occasional weekends, depending on the congressional schedule. It is Washington-based and involves working in the office and in the Capitol.

The successful candidate will cover news and write policy-oriented features and the newsletter through the lens of Congress, the executive branch and the federal judiciary, all for a sophisticated audience.

The role also involves co-writing the flagship CQ Energy newsletter, a source of news, analysis, documents and vote data available on the CQ website to subscribers. 

About the CQ Roll Call Team

The senior staff writer is part of CQ Roll Call’s coverage of both policy and politics in FiscalNote’s mission to make government transparent for readers on the Hill, in the executive branch, and in the private-sector groups and NGOs with a stake in government decision-making.

About You

You are a self-motivated journalist with a broad interest in policy, Congress and the legislative process. You have a solid understanding of the annual budget and appropriations process. You are a team player, able and willing to handle varied parts of the production process, with the flexibility to change plans on the fly should news dictate. You don't mind letting your (literal) voice be heard.

For your experience writing about energy policy, please submit up to five clips below.

Please note this position is a contracted role for 6 months from April - October 2025 with potential for an additional 6 month renewal. The compensation for this position would be $45-62 an hour.

• Diving into the inner workings of committee work, floor activity and legislative procedure.
• A flexible daily start time, with a midmorning start on days policy coverage is expected, and typically an early afternoon start on days focused on the CQ Energy Briefing newsletter. There is additional flexibility during congressional recesses. Later start times are occasionally needed.
• Reporting from the halls of Congress and committee rooms, as well as poring through documents, working the phones, and attending in-person and virtual events.
• Working collaboratively and occasionally sharing bylines with other reporters. 
• Developing and cultivating a network of sources on and off Capitol Hill, including White House officials, lobbyists, industry officials and think tank experts.
• Using data to inform your reporting.
• Occasional reporting and writing profiles of congressional candidates and members of Congress.
• Writing a mix of spot news and enterprise for two websites, a newspaper that publishes when Congress is in session and the CQ Energy newsletter for subscribers, as well as breaking news when relevant to your beat.  
• Demonstrating your expertise through occasional podcasts and webinars.
• Pitching unique story ideas that differentiate CQ Roll Call from its competitors and smartly executing those ideas.
• Covering committee markups of energy and environment-related bills and entering amendments and votes into CQRC’s proprietary database. This is a critical component of legislative tracking provided to CQ subscribers.

• At least 4 years of daily journalism experience as a reporter and writer for a newspaper or news-oriented website. Experience covering Congress or the federal government is required.
• Experience writing about energy and environmental policy.
• Ability to write quickly and cleanly. 
• Working collaboratively with other teams across the newsroom. 
• Ability to track congressional activity and highlight key committee and House or Senate floor work for readers. You must be comfortable learning the nuances of congressional floor procedure and know how to write about it in an accessible, clear way. 
• A keen eye for detail. If you can explain the difference between a motion to proceed and a motion to recommit, or are ready to learn, this job is for you. 
• Mastering  AP, CQ Roll Call style and congressional terminology are required. 
• Deep understanding of the journalistic values of accuracy, objectivity, fairness and editorial independence.
• Familiarity with WordPress or other content management systems. 

Excited about this role, but don't meet 100% of the expected qualifications listed above? We'd still love for you to apply! FiscalNote is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where unique experiences are valued and everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Research has continuously shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all of the listed qualifications. We want to help overcome this trend and seek to make space for unique and relevant skills and attributes. So, when applying to FiscalNote, rest assured that your application is reviewed by a living, breathing human being and evaluated based on key competencies needed for success in the position. Our Recruiting team maintains awareness of all open roles which means your application may be assessed against multiple positions and we will reach out to gauge your interest in other opportunities as appropriate. Questions or concerns? Contact recruiting.team@fiscalnote.com, we'd be happy to connect!

As part of FiscalNote's commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive hiring process, we strive to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with medical conditions or disabilities that will enable their access to the hiring process. If you need an accommodation, please send an email to recruiting.team@fiscalnote.com to let us know the nature of your request.

About FiscalNote 

FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) is a leader in policy and global intelligence. By uniquely combining data, technology, and insights, FiscalNote empowers customers with critical insights and the tools to turn them into action.

Home to CQ, FrontierView, Oxford Analytica, VoterVoice, and many other industry-leading brands, FiscalNote helps organizations stay ahead of political and business risk.

At FiscalNote, we Lead with Values

Know your Audience ∙ Find the Truth ∙ Drive Alignment ∙ Level Up ∙ Own the Job ∙ Bias for Action ∙ Support the Family 

FiscalNote is continuing to hire new talent, with all interviewing and on-boarding done virtually due to COVID-19.  New team members, along with our current staff, will temporarily work remotely (unless communicated otherwise).  

Company Benefits

FiscalNote supports our people by enabling team members with flexibility and benefits to promote well-being and balance, ensuring all FiscalNoters can bring their authentic selves to work. We start by offering competitive salaries, retirement accounts, and equity packages to ensure we’re all FN owners. Plus, our comprehensive benefits packages align with regional requirements and expectations no matter where you are located across the globe. Learn more at https://careers.fiscalnote.com/benefits/.

FiscalNote values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age. FiscalNote is an EEOC employer.

FiscalNote uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.DHS.gov/E-Verify.