The posting
The Position
Ballotpedia is seeking a full-time, 100% remote Staff Writer to join our Events Team.
The Events Team is responsible for becoming experts in the stories, conflicts, and elections that matter most to voters, constituents, and the public at large. We are responsible for neutrally presenting the most important facts and news updates about these stories. We focus on the stories that matter most to broad swaths of our readers, and on those that stand to have the greatest effect on the balance of power and political outcomes in the country. We cover stories at all levels of government, from presidential elections down to school boards, where the balance of power is at stake.
A successful staff writer will be passionate and knowledgeable about politics. They will be comfortable conceiving and designing research methods. They will be comfortable conducting extensive research using media and political websites, official government sources, and through direct person-to-person outreach.
They must be able to write about complex topics in a neutral, clear, and concise manner. They must have a passion for accuracy, completeness, innovation, neutrality, and for creating a delightful experience for Ballotpedia’s readers. They should be able to demonstrate excellent writing, organizational skills, proofreading ability, and familiarity with style guides. Ballotpedia has its own style guide that is based on the AP Stylebook.
They love critical feedback and view it as an opportunity to deliver greater value to our readers. Finally, they enjoy organizing their own lives and the world around them. They maintain orderly habits and perceive external disorder as an opportunity to innovate and improve.
Responsibilities
As an Events Team Staff Writer, you will:
- Produce articles with excellent introductions and ledes that capture important elements of elections and political stories.
- Build and manage assigned articles in line with Ballotpedia's writing guidelines and expected quality levels.
- Monitor breaking news daily and make timely updates to articles based on judgment about what updates will most satisfy readers.
- Respond to news by quickly developing new articles as needed.
- Contribute to the publication of Ballotpedia's newsletter products.
- Use and generate complex procedure checklist documentation to perform key tasks.
- Ensure that your team's managing editor is aware of project progress.
- Learn and master Ballotpedia’s taxonomy of bias.
- Interact with co-workers, customers, and the media in a professional, helpful, and pleasant manner.
Skills and Qualifications
An ideal Events Team Staff Writer will possess:
- A demonstrated passion for Ballotpedia’s mission
- Knowledge of the United States political system
- Experience working in databases and with spreadsheets
- Experience in writing and/or editing, with professional or academic writing experience an additional benefit
- Interest in or experience using AI tools to increase productivity
- Superb organizational skills and a focus on detail
- A desire to work collaboratively with Ballotpedia staff from multiple departments
- Comfort seeking and responding to feedback
- A drive for innovation and flexibility, and an ability to identify and solve problems proactively
- Self-awareness and a drive toward constant improvement
Environment
The Events Team Staff Writer will work remotely from their home location. All Ballotpedia staff work remotely. To join Ballotpedia, you must have a computer with Internet access. Ballotpedia uses the Google Suite (Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and more), Slack, and Asana to accomplish our goals. Some familiarity with the Google Suite, Slack, and Asana are helpful.
Ballotpedia has a flexible work environment, BP Flex, in which every employee enjoys unlimited vacation and flexibility in scheduling. Each employee will be oriented to the principles of Ballotpedia’s flexible environment during new employee training.
Compensation
The starting pay range for the Marquee Team Staff Writer is $42,500-$44,000, commensurate with experience.
In addition to salary, Ballotpedia offers an annual benefits stipend equivalent to $8,000 that is paid out in equal increments in each paycheck once an employee becomes benefits eligible. The stipend may be used to pay for a full benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement accounts; and more. If benefits are not elected, the stipend is taxed as regular income and added to salary.
To Apply
To apply please visit our job opportunities page and complete an application on our website. Please attach the following in PDF format if possible:
- résumé
- cover letter detailing your interest in Ballotpedia’s mission/this position
- neutral writing sample (under five pages)
Please ensure that either your résumé or your cover letter includes your current address.
Please note that if you are hired for this position, Ballotpedia participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ballotpedia is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.
About Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing Americans with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about politics, elections, and public policy. Our mission is to ensure that the only unknown on your ballot is who gets your vote. We value innovation, humility, intellectual curiosity, drive, and a collaborative spirit and are committed to continuously improving our offerings to better serve our audiences, readers, and candidates.
