Campaign Embed MS NOW Newsgathering

Versant Media; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Versant Media is seeking enterprising cross-platform journalists to cover the 2028 election cycle from the campaign trail. You will report relentlessly, shoot field video, write digital stories and produce social content for all platforms.

Responsibilities include contributing rolling breaking content, building sources, and delivering readouts with minimal edits. Expect multi-platform visibility and on-air appearances for MS NOW.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Strong writing and communication skills essential.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Contribute rolling content for all platforms in a breaking news environment.
• Deploy cross-platform field journalism skills including shooting events, live transmission, and producing social content.
• Produce readouts from events with minimal editing and summarize themes for on-air use.
• Cultivate sources and break news on your beat.
• Appear on MS NOW video platforms and occasionally on live television.
• Collaborate with other reporters, producers and hosts.
• Represent MS NOW with integrity according to newsroom standards.

Skills

Strong writing

News judgment

Deadline management

On-camera

Political awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Camera operation

Video editing

Job description

MS NOW is seeking enterprising cross-platform journalists to serve on the front lines of the 2028 election cycle. You’ll be our eyes and ears on the campaign trail — following candidates across early primary states, chronicling campaign events and tracking interactions with voters — as the nation chooses its next president. You’ll have a front-row seat to the election while delivering for all platforms of MS NOW.

Campaign embeds work at all hours with constantly changing schedules. You will be expected to report relentlessly, building relationships with candidates, advisers, voters, party leaders, donors and other key players to track developments in the race and break news on your beat. You’ll write continuously for our digital audience. You’ll shoot video from the field. You’ll share insights with our viewers, readers and listeners — an audience deeply interested in every turn of the political cycle. You’ll get the experience of a lifetime in one of the most challenging and sought-after roles in journalism.

This is a contract position until January 2029.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute rolling content for all platforms in a breaking news environment
• Deploy cross-platform field journalism skills including, but not limited to, shooting political events, providing live transmission, gathering elements for shows/packages, writing digital stories, and producing social media content
• Produce readouts from each event that could be published with minimal editing. You’ll summarize major editorial themes, identify the most impactful soundbites, and turn social videos for use across platforms.
• Cultivate sources and break news on your beat
• Appear on video platforms of MS NOW and occasionally on live television
• Collaborate with other reporters assigned to covering the campaign, producers and hosts.
• Represent MS NOW at all times with integrity according to our newsroom standards

Qualifications:

• Desire to live and breathe politics at all hours throughout the 2028 campaign.
• Strong grasp of the U.S. political landscape, current events and public policy
• Track record of building sources and breaking news on a beat
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Proficiency in all aspects of production including but not limited to shooting, writing and editing stories for various platforms – with a real emphasis on written digital content
• Sound news judgment and a strong understanding of news standards, including a fierce commitment to fairness and accuracy
• Ability to communicate complex matters with ease
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and multi-task with speed and efficiency
• Some experience appearing on video platforms
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience

Additional Requirements:

• Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks.

Salary Range: $80,000 - $100,000

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [e-mail].

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

Compensation:

$80,000-$80,000 per year