Politics & Society Editor

The Conversation U.S. is an independent, nonprofit media organization publishing daily news analysis and research news written by academics and edited by journalists for the general public. The Politics & Society Editor commissions and edits politics and government coverage, helping readers understand U.S. democracy through expert analysis and explanatory journalism.

• Commission and edit 3–4 articles per week on politics and government, including breaking news, working with scholars to produce expert analysis and explanatory journalism.
• Track current and emerging news, ideas, and trends in government and politics.
• Participate in brainstorming and planning for stories and series with other desks and international Conversation editors.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with scholars at member universities and encourage them to write for The Conversation.
• Commission and edit stories for the desk, including photo research.
• Develop story ideas and seek out meaningful new research to provide original insight and context.
• Maintain clear, timely, professional communication with academic authors and fellow editors.
• Help uphold editorial standards by editing the work of other editors.
• Work with scholar-authors to structure stories, simplify research without losing nuance, line-edit into plain English, and fact-check while monitoring conflicts of interest.
• Assess and provide substantive feedback on scholars’ story pitches.
• Attend daily news meetings and monthly planning/staff meetings.
• Learn and apply house style.
• Support public outreach, including training sessions for scholars and attending relevant conferences.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of journalism experience, including 3+ years editing (preferably in a daily news environment).
• At least 2+ years covering politics/government (as editor or reporter); prior coverage of government and politics required.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills; ability to work as a team player.
• Ability to work quickly in a fast-paced daily deadline environment and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to work independently and be highly productive while remote.
• Strong news judgment; skilled at developing story ideas relevant to the public.
• Ability to grasp deeper meaning and context behind political developments and trends.
• Clear understanding of the difference between opinion and analysis.
• Commitment to strong journalistic ethics and high editorial standards.
• Experience in online content production.
• Preferred/plus: wire service experience; experience editing stories written by scholars.

• Full-time position.
• Salary range: $85,000–$92,000 per year.
• Remote considered across the U.S.; East Coast preference.
• Hybrid option (in-person + work-from-home) available for candidates in Boston or New York.
• Benefits include 401(k) matching, PTO, sick days, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, parental leave, and paid holidays.