Staff Writer, Tax and Economic Policy
FiscalNote
Marketing & Communications
Washington, DC, USA
USD 70k-80k / year + Equity
Posted on Jul 18, 2025
About the Position
CQ Roll Call seeks an energetic and versatile journalist to cover tax and economic policy as part of a team focused on federal budget and fiscal policy coverage. We’re looking for someone who can connect the dots between policies, politics and people. These stories would focus on legislation and policy for congressional, legal and regulatory audiences; nonprofits, academia and the business community.
About Reporting at CQ Roll Call
CQ Roll Call is dedicated to providing nonpartisan news, in-depth analysis and legislative tracking about Congress, the administration and federal agencies. CQ, founded in 1945 as Congressional Quarterly, delivers to subscribers actionable intelligence about policy making. Our journalism focuses on how legislation is shaped, key players, motivations driving debate and how the process affects your interests. Roll Call, founded in 1955, is known for its objective coverage of the people, politics, and personalities of Capitol Hill. We have more than 40 print and online products -- including a digital magazine, topic-specific newsletters, transcripts, government documents, and committee and floor votes -- that keep readers updated on daily, weekly and real-time basis.
About You
The job requires knowledge of Congress and the executive branch, particularly the Treasury Department and IRS. The ideal candidate must be able to break news on a competitive beat and write clearly and concisely under tight deadlines. A knack for balancing spot news with unique enterprise that goes beyond daily deadlines is ideal. Teamwork and collaboration skills are essential.
All applicants must submit 5 writing samples published in newspapers, news websites or news magazines. These samples can be provided below by uploading PDF documents or sharing direct links to the work. A timed writing test and a test of congressional knowledge are required to advance to interviews with the team. This will be something we will share during the process.
The base salary for this position is $70,000 - 80,000 annually.
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What to Expect in this Position
- Filing daily stories about tax and economic policy focused on legislative, regulatory and presidential actions, written smartly and with clarity.
- Contributions to daily newsletter focused on budget and fiscal policy.
- Legislative tracking, including coverage of congressional committee markups and entry of vote information into CQ database.
- Continual source-building in the halls of Congress, within federal agencies and among advocacy and interest groups, including the business and lobbying community.
- A fast-paced, subscriber-focused newsroom where stories are told via two websites, a newspaper that publishes when Congress is in session, newsletters in front of and behind a paywall, and policy-oriented podcasts.
- Participation in company-sponsored webinars and events.
- Proficiency about the operations of Congress, the White House, federal agencies and politics. You should be equally comfortable analyzing the provisions of a bill while covering a markup, digging into how taxpayer dollars are spent and raised, and explaining why an action by Congress or the administration is important to a sophisticated audience primarily that relies on news and analysis to do their jobs.
- Working as part of a team to collaborate on fast-moving stories of the day on Capitol Hill, including the federal appropriations process.
What Sets You Apart
- 5+ years of experience covering Congress, federal agencies or a state legislature for news organizations. Congressional experience is strongly recommended, as well as experience covering tax and economic policy. Applicants who have covered a state legislature or other policy-making institution will be considered if they meet other beat requirements.
- Ability to write concise, sharp and engaging copy under deadline pressure.
- Ability to provide context behind tax policy and illustrate its impact on the people and industries affected by it.
- Strong source development, beyond the typical agency or committee spokesperson.
- Narrative storytelling skills that can help tie Washington policy to communities outside the Beltway.
- Familiarity with and ability to mine campaign finance and lobbying records for stories of interest to stakeholders on and off Capitol Hill.
- An affinity for data and ability to work with numbers to tell stories.
- An interest in and desire to look for stories that tie together policymaking and the parochial and political interests driving lawmakers.
- Writing or updating member profiles that feed CQ’s Guide to the New Congress and other products about members.
- A collaborative and collegial disposition, including willingness to share bylines with other reporters.
Excited about this role, but don't meet 100% of the expected qualifications listed above? We'd still love for you to apply!
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, 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
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.
