Statehouse reporting by news organizations nationwide is on the decline. As budget cuts are harsher, statehouse bureaus have grown smaller and coverage receives less play in the paper or on the nightly news. But now, more than ever, big decisions are being made in statehouses and I’m one of the reporters who’s set on covering that news.

I had my first experience covering the statehouse for the Columbia Missourian, the lab newspaper run by the Missouri School of Journalism.  There, I covered statewide elections – including the Attorney General’s race – along with the Legislature’s veto session.

I also covered the Missouri legislature for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in my first position following graduation.  While I was typically stationed in the Missouri House during the legislative session, I focused on a number of issues including K-12 education, the local control struggle by the St. Louis city police department and drug policies.

I also covered the Texas Legislature’s special session while on a general assignment internship at the Austin American-Statesman and covered several state legislative races for The Kansas City Star during the 2010 election cycle.

About Juana

Political journalist. Social media addict. DC transplant by way of Missouri.