Policy Staff Writer

Summary

Join Ballotpedia's Policy Team as a full-time, 100% remote Staff Writer! You will research, write, and curate neutral content on American public policy debates. Responsibilities include generating content, conducting research, and editing articles on various policy-related topics. The ideal candidate possesses strong writing and research skills, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Ballotpedia offers a flexible work environment with unlimited vacation and a competitive benefits package. Apply now and help us close the political information gap!

Requirements

• Be self-aware and personally invested in constant improvement
• Have a passion for creating a delightful experience for Ballotpedia’s readers and donors
• Strive to develop expertise in your subject and the inner workings of your project
• Interact with customers, including but not limited to donors, external stakeholders, and media, in a professional, helpful, and pleasant manner
• Use and generate complex procedure checklist documentation to perform key tasks
• Edit content from multiple perspectives to unearth new improvement opportunities
• Learn and master Ballotpedia’s taxonomy of bias and Style Guide
• Learn from and apply feedback others give, such as in Master Classes
• Identify trends in policy developments that span multiple areas
• Work with breaking news, including having an eye for developing stories
• Apply proper judgment when monitoring news to know which stories merit coverage
• Conduct research efficiently and seek out the best possible sources
• Collaborate professionally and effectively with coworkers and external partners
• Innovate to improve work processes and enhance content quality
• Think creatively beyond standard article components to include additional content
• Use and master complex tools such as templates and spreadsheets
• Have a computer with internet access

Responsibilities

• Generate content about complex topics in a neutral, clear, and concise manner
• Read as much as possible about the policy coverage areas and become a content expert in the coverage areas
• Create and edit articles on noteworthy and upcoming court cases, laws, executive orders, key terms, influencers, and scholarly work related to our policy coverage areas
• Identify and curate arguments for and against proposed policy changes
• Identify and curate proposed policy reforms
• Track news events to keep policy coverage up to date
• Participate in recurring team book clubs
• Efficiently read scholarly work with an eye to what’s missing in our related content and find a way to incorporate that into our content
• Find the most compelling feature of a story and promote it with a strong headline
• Host and lead webinars and draft presentations, incorporating feedback in preparation
• Contribute ideas to a monthly newsletter
• Draft a recurring newsletter, incorporating feedback as needed
• Produce educational outreach opportunities, including Learning Journeys and Learning Expeditions
• Contribute to topical webinars on breaking news related to the topic
• Proofread content effectively, efficiently, and consistently
• Analyze court decisions and track legislation across the 50 states to identify policy trends and developments
• Travel to and attend related events as needed

Preferred Qualifications

Some familiarity with Google Workspace, Slack, and Asana is helpful

Benefits

• 100% remote work
• Unlimited vacation
• Flexible work environment
• Starting pay of $44,000
• Bonuses based on performance
• $8,000 annual benefits stipend (for health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement accounts)