How to apply for Technology Reporter - Business of Tech, AI & Power

About Semafor

Semafor is a global digital news platform focused on transparent, independent reporting across politics, business, technology, and world affairs. It offers a distinct editorial approach that prioritizes clarity and directness, which may appeal to journalists who want to reach a global audience without legacy media constraints.

About the role

This technology reporter covers AI, business strategy, and political influence shaping the tech industry and global markets. The role involves producing scoops and analytical pieces on AI labs, major tech companies, venture capital, and tech policy decisions. It requires building high-level sources across AI companies, venture capital firms, Capitol Hill, the White House, and federal agencies, and writing agenda-setting stories that contextualize company and policy decisions within capital accumulation, geopolitical competition, and technological transformation.

A typical day

A typical day might involve cultivating sources at AI companies, venture capital firms, or federal agencies to develop scoops, then writing analytical pieces that connect company and policy decisions to capital accumulation and geopolitical competition. You would also collaborate with journalists across business, finance, politics, and international coverage on cross-beat investigative stories and possibly contribute to live journalism events. Exact daily routines are not specified in the job description; ask about team structure and editorial workflow during the interview.

Who Semafor is looking for

• At least five years of tech or business journalism experience with demonstrated deep sourcing inside companies and venture capital.
• Proven ability to break news and produce analytical pieces on AI labs, major tech companies, venture capital, and tech policy decisions.
• Established high-level sources across AI companies, venture capital firms, Capitol Hill, the White House, and federal agencies.
• Comfortable collaborating with journalists across business, finance, politics, and international coverage to produce cross-beat investigative stories and contribute to live journalism.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific scoops you have broken on AI labs, major tech companies, venture capital, or tech policy decisions, and include links to those stories in your application.
• List your high-level sources in AI companies, venture capital firms, Capitol Hill, the White House, and federal agencies, and describe how you have cultivated and maintained them.
• Demonstrate your ability to write agenda-setting stories that connect company and policy decisions to capital accumulation, geopolitical competition, and technological transformation.
• Show experience collaborating with journalists across business, finance, politics, and international coverage on cross-beat investigative stories.
• Mention any live journalism experience, such as news-breaking coverage or on-record panels with senior business and political figures.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, emphasize your five or more years of tech or business journalism experience and provide concrete examples of deep sourcing inside companies and venture capital. Explain how you have built and maintained high-level sources across AI companies, venture capital firms, Capitol Hill, the White House, and federal agencies. Describe your approach to writing agenda-setting stories that contextualize company and policy decisions within capital accumulation, geopolitical competition, and technological transformation. Highlight your experience collaborating with journalists across business, finance, politics, and international coverage on cross-beat investigative stories and your contributions to live journalism.

Research before applying

• Read Semafor's technology coverage to understand its editorial style, story selection, and how it approaches AI, business strategy, and political influence.
• Study Semafor's business and finance reporting to see how it covers capital accumulation, venture capital, and geopolitical competition.
• Review Semafor's live journalism events, such as panels with senior business and political figures, to understand the format and audience.
• Identify recent tech policy decisions and AI developments that Semafor has covered, and consider how you would add value or break new stories.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How do you build and maintain high-level sources across AI companies, venture capital firms, Capitol Hill, the White House, and federal agencies?
• What is your process for producing regular scoops and analytical pieces on AI labs, major tech companies, venture capital, and tech policy decisions?
• How do you contextualize company and policy decisions within capital accumulation, geopolitical competition, and technological transformation?
• Describe a time you collaborated with journalists across business, finance, politics, and international coverage to produce a cross-beat investigative story.
• What experience do you have with live journalism, including news-breaking coverage and on-record panels with senior business and political figures?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without demonstrating deep sourcing inside companies and venture capital, which is a core requirement for this role.
• Failing to provide specific examples of scoops or analytical pieces on AI labs, major tech companies, venture capital, or tech policy decisions.
• Ignoring Semafor's editorial focus on transparent, independent reporting and its global perspective on politics, business, technology, and world affairs.