Beat Reporters-Boulder

Do you live and breathe local news? Yellow Scene Magazine is hiring dedicated beat reporters for the Boulder and Longmont regions. Roughly 25-30 hours a month on average.

Your Beat Would Include:

• Attending biweekly city council or planning meetings
• Publishing regular dispatches (biweekly to monthly)
• Covering local issues like housing, affordability, policing, elections, and development
• Interviewing local officials, residents, activists, and watchdogs
• Tracking long-term issues and local controversies with context and depth

• Comfortable with interviews, live note-taking, and local research
• A clear communicator with a strong grasp of civic systems
• Passionate about public accountability and equity-based coverage
• Willing to travel locally for meetings or in-person reporting when appropriate

• We pay $50 for every two public meetings covered (whether or not a story results)
• Per-story rates include cash plus optional trade, typically from $75 to $175
• Longer, more intensive stories may pay up to $300+, depending on depth and reporting time

Send us an email at ass with:

• Your resume and writing samples
• Which beat (or region) you're applying for
• A few sentences on why local journalism matters to you

Writers from marginalized communities and those with ties to the cities we cover are especially encouraged to apply.

Being independent in local news isn’t easy these days; in fact, it’s damn hard. We are an independent local magazine that refuses to do sponsored content. Local news matters as much as national news, and we’re committed to maintaining journalistic standards and covering our community. We’ve earned 25 years, 200+ awards, and a lot of hustle, and we’re still here.

In the world of "content writing" (which we have a particular disdain for), there are still a few beacons of local media staying true to the mission.

Yellow Scene Magazine may not be a national publication, but in 2025 we celebrate 25 years as a credentialed, independent magazine in Boulder County. We cover arts, entertainment, news, politics, social issues, education, healthcare, science, elections, and more — basically, whatever we think is worthy of real discussion.

We’ve won nearly 200 awards for Excellence in Journalism since 2000 and have grown to be the largest distributed publication in the region. We stay true to the mission. You won’t find a single “Native Advertising” article in our pages. Ever.

We encourage writers to find their Voice. Factually based, of course—but your voice matters, and you’re here to use it. You’re not afraid of research, and you’re not afraid of direction. We’re cranky, always broke, getting old, and picky.

• Entry level

• Contract

• Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing

• Book and Periodical Publishing