Booking Producer

POLITICO; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

POLITICO in Arlington, VA is seeking a highly capable booker to join our live events and podcasts by identifying, researching, and securing top-tier guests.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong communication, sound judgment, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. You will work with editorial, live events, and production teams to shape compelling conversations for a diverse and influential audience.

Qualifications

• Booking experience in newsroom, podcast, TV or digital video.
• Deep knowledge of Washington and political media.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple deadlines.
• Eye for timely, relevant stories and influential voices.
• Experience working with talent and on-air personalities.
• Passion for politics and public policy.
• Existing network of contacts in government or think tanks.

Responsibilities

• Identify, vet, and book high-profile guests for live events and podcast programming.
• Draft outreach, manage scheduling, and guest communications with professionalism and discretion.
• Conduct background research on potential guests and topics; prepare briefing materials for hosts and moderators.
• Work cross‑functionally with editorial, events, and production teams to align guest selection with programming goals.
• Maintain accurate records of booking activity and communications history.
• Assist with live event execution, including guest check‑ins and technical prep.

Skills

Booking experience

Washington politics knowledge

Organizational skills

Storytelling instincts

Talent/on-air experience

Passion for politics

Government/think-tank contacts

Job description

What sets POLITICO apart is our unwavering commitment to nonpartisan, fact-driven journalism and our exceptional depth, with nearly 600 journalists – across seven newsrooms and with expertise in more than 40 policy beats – dedicated to decoding political dynamics and policy implications. We've established ourselves as essential in today's complex political landscape by providing unmatched reporting and analysis with a global lens. POLITICO live events and the audio-video team represent the physical manifestation of our mission — convening the most influential stakeholders for urgent, news-driven conversations that add depth and context to the discussions that genuinely matter.

What sets POLITICO apart is our unwavering commitment to nonpartisan, fact-driven journalism and our exceptional depth, with nearly 600 journalists – across seven newsrooms and with expertise in more than 40 policy beats – dedicated to decoding political dynamics and policy implications. We've established ourselves as essential in today's complex political landscape by providing unmatched reporting and analysis with a global lens. POLITICO live events and the audio-video team represent the physical manifestation of our mission — convening the most influential stakeholders for urgent, news-driven conversations that add depth and context to the discussions that genuinely matter.

POLITICO is seeking a highly capable and dynamic booker to join our growing team, based in Arlington, VA. This producer will support the programming and production of our live events and podcasts by identifying, researching, and securing top-tier guests – from policymakers and thought leaders to subject‑matter experts and newsmakers. This position will directly contribute to high‑profile, newsworthy events, programs, and experiences that advance POLITICO’s newsroom and editorial franchises as well as creating impactful brand moments for POLITICO and its clients.

The ideal candidate is a self‑starter with strong communication skills, excellent judgment, someone who excels in a fast-paced and collaborative environment and who has a keen sense for news and topical relevance. You’ll work closely with the editorial, live event, and audio teams to help shape compelling conversations for a diverse and influential audience.

Who You Are

• A highly resourceful individual with a passion for news media, politics, and policy
• A meticulous planner who thrives in high-energy environments
• Someone who understands importance of storytelling and how it aligns with the fast-paced world of breaking news

What You’ll Do

• Identify, vet, and book high-profile and relevant guests for POLITICO’s live journalism events and podcast programming
• Draft and send outreach communications, handle scheduling logistics, and manage guest communications with professionalism and discretion
• Conduct background research on potential guests and topics; help prepare briefing documents and interview materials for hosts and moderators
• Work cross‑functionally with editorial, events, and production teams to align guest selection with programming goals and editorial standards
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date records of booking activity, guest contacts, and communications history
• Assist with live event execution, including guest check‑ins, technical prep (when virtual), and coordination with production teams

What You’ll Need

• A previous booking experience in a newsroom, podcast, television, or digital video environment
• A deep knowledge of Washington and a strong sense of how political news lands and moves in the current media landscape
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and shift priorities
• An eye for timely, relevant stories and influential voices
• Experience working with talent and/or on‑air personalities
• Passion for politics, public policy, and current affairs
• Existing network of contacts in government, think tanks, or advocacy organizations

Compensation

$90,000- 100,000 Annual Base.

The final salary offered will be based on factors including relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

About Us

POLITICO illuminates the forces shaping global power. Since 2007, we have delivered intelligence that anticipates tomorrow's headlines, not reports on yesterday's news. As politics has increasingly become the defining force of our era, our work has never been more vital.

Cabinet secretaries and Ministers start their mornings with our analysis. CEOs shape strategy around our reporting. Advocacy leaders rely on our insights to move policy. We deliver the straightforward facts and clear‑eyed analysis they need to navigate the most complex political landscape of our lifetimes.

Our 1,100+ publishing professionals across the world's key democratic capitals—Washington, Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, Sacramento, and New York—form the world's premier politics and policy newsroom. We tell the story of how power really works by explaining who wields it and how they plan to exercise it, connecting dots others miss and delivering scoops from sources others don’t even know exist.

Innovation has always been a core tenet of our story. At launch, we bet that depth would trump scale, that talent would trump traffic, and that politics would become central to modern life. In 2011, we made another bet and launched POLITICO Pro to help decision‑makers understand the business of government, transforming both how they shape government action and the business of journalism itself.

These bets have made POLITICO the most successful digital news startup of its generation and the indispensable resource for leaders who shape the future. Today, we are a rarity in media: a growing, profitable, and sustainable news organization.

POLITICO is a subsidiary of Axel Springer SE, a family-owned transatlantic media company headquartered in Berlin and New York. Axel Springer is dedicated to shaping the future of journalism in the free world, believing that a free and informed society is essential to democracy. The company’s guiding principles - first articulated as The Essentials by founder Axel Springer in the aftermath of World War II - remain a cornerstone of the company’s foundation today. Learn more about Axel Springer.