Editorial Research & Data Associate

National Journal; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

National Journal is seeking an Editorial Research & Data Associate to help produce National Journal Daily, a daily political and policy newsletter for government affairs professionals.

The Editorial Research & Data Associate is an early-career analyst or journalist who curates, researches, and helps produce National Journal’s daily political and policy newsletter—synthesizing news, data, and insights to deliver timely, high-quality analysis and graphics that empowers government affairs

Qualifications

• Experience in graphic design tools like Datawrapper and Canva.
• Strong interest in politics and policy with insight for decision-makers.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills — you can juggle multiple deadlines without losing sight of quality or detail.
• Demonstrated writing and editing ability, ideally through journalism coursework, campus publications, or early professional experience.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where precision and timeliness matter.
• Facility with AI tools (e.g., for research, drafting, and data visualization) and a curiosity for how they can enhance editorial work while maintaining factual accuracy.
• A problem-solver’s mindset — you can anticipate challenges, adapt quickly, and keep things moving.
• A keen editorial eye for what makes content compelling, useful, and shareable.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Earned bachelor’s degree; background in journalism, communications, political science, public policy, or related fields preferred.
• Experience with HubSpot or similar content management platforms is a plus, as is experience with Python or similar web-scraping tools.

Responsibilities

• Create daily charts and graphics from a variety of data sources that show the big picture of the day into one easy-to-digest visual.
• Curate the day’s political and policy news from across national and state sources, identifying the most relevant developments for our inside-the-Beltway audience.
• Contribute original content ranging from short-form data reporting projects to longer, more in-depth dives into data for National Journal publications.
• Leverage AI tools to assist in data collection, research, summarization, and content production, using editorial judgment and fact-checking rigor.
• Collaborate with different teams to align coverage, manage deadlines, and maintain editorial consistency.
• Search for new academic studies, think tank papers, charts, and congressional testimony that illuminate politics and policy for readers.
• Coordinate recurring newsletter content and help manage production workflows, delivering daily, weekly, and monthly features on time at a high standard of quality.

Skills

Graphic design tools

Interest in politics

Organizational skills

Writing/editing ability

Deadline-driven

AI tools proficiency

Problem-solving mindset

Editorial eye

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism/public policy/political science/communications

Tools

Datawrapper

Canva

HubSpot or CMS

Python/web-scraping tools

Job description

National Journal is hiring an Editorial Research & Data Associate to join our editorial team and help produce National Journal Daily, our daily political and policy newsletter for government affairs professionals.

The Editorial Research & Data Associate is an early-career analyst or journalist who curates, researches, and helps produce National Journal’s daily political and policy newsletter—synthesizing news, data, and insights to deliver timely, high-quality analysis and graphics that empowers government affairs professionals to understand and navigate the forces shaping Washington and state politics.

About National Journal’s Editorial Team

National Journal is a premier research and insights company committed to helping organizations effectively navigate Washington. Best known as one of Washington’s most trusted media brands for nearly 50 years, our expertise is unmatched, with teams of specialists dedicated to government affairs, communications, and political research, as well as exceptional journalism.

National Journal Daily

National Journal Daily is an insider's source for understanding what’s happening in US politics and policy and why it matters to organizations. Published each evening, The Daily helps Washington influencers cut through the noise by providing context and analysis for plugged-in professionals and the stakeholders they serve.

About the Role

Are you the type of person who looks for the story beneath the story in the political arena? Do your friends remark that you always seem to have a fact, stat, or insight that makes sense of what’s happening in Washington or the states? Do you thrive on deadlines, enjoy connecting dots across the policy landscape, and get energy from making complex developments clear and interesting for others?

If so, we’d love to meet you. We’re looking for an Editorial Research Associate to help shape and deliver a daily newsletter that gives government affairs professionals the insights, context, and smart takeaways they need to understand the political and policy environment.

What You’ll Do

• Create daily charts and graphics from a variety of data sources that show the big picture of the day into one easy-to-digest visual.

• Curate the day’s political and policy news from across national and state sources, identifying the most relevant and thought-provoking developments for our inside-the-Beltway audience of government affairs professionals, Capitol Hill staffers, and political consultants.

• Contribute original content ranging from short-form data reporting projects to longer, more in-depth dives into data that will appear in National Journal publications.

• Leverage AI tools to assist in data collection, research, summarization, and content production, using good editorial judgment and fact-checking rigor.

• Collaborate with different teams to align coverage, manage deadlines, and maintain editorial consistency.

• Search for new academic studies, think tank papers, charts, and congressional testimony that illuminate politics and policy and help our readers make sense of it.

• Coordinate recurring newsletter content and help manage production workflows, ensuring daily, weekly, and monthly features are delivered on time and at a high standard of quality.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

• Experience in graphic design tools like Datawrapper and Canva.

• A strong interest in politics and policy, and an instinct for what’s meaningful or surprising to decision-makers in business, advocacy, and government.

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills — you can juggle multiple deadlines without losing sight of quality or detail.

• Demonstrated writing and editing ability, ideally through journalism coursework, campus publications, or early professional experience.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where precision and timeliness matter.

• Facility with AI tools (e.g., for research, drafting, and data visualization) and a curiosity for how they can enhance editorial work while maintaining factual accuracy.

• A problem-solver’s mindset — you can anticipate challenges, adapt quickly, and keep things moving.

• A keen editorial eye for what makes content compelling, useful, and shareable.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.

• Earned bachelor’s degree; background in journalism, communications, political science, public policy, or related fields preferred.

• Experience with HubSpot or similar content management platforms is a plus, as is experience with Python or similar web-scraping tools.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This is an excellent role for someone early in their career who loves the data behind political storytelling, wants to learn the rhythms of a professional newsroom, and thrives at the intersection of journalism, policy, and audience engagement. You’ll join a fast-paced editorial environment where curiosity, precision, and creativity are valued — and where your work helps professionals across industries understand and navigate the forces shaping policy and politics today.

$55,000 - $55,000 a year

Application Deadline: September 11, 2026

Employment Type: Full-time

Location: This job is based in Washington, DC. National Journal operates on a hybrid schedule, with employees required to be in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About Us

Across National Journal Group, generally, the firm looks for two “pillar gifts” in you, and everyone else. In all of us, these are more aspirational than actual, but they are central in our intentions –

Force of Ideas

At the center of National Journal Group work are the ideas within our writing. We believe that ideas – to the good and not – have consequences. Our highest work is bringing rigor, insight, intellectual honesty, to that ultimate purpose of separating the bad from the good, and giving voice to the latter.

Spirit of Generosity

National Journal Group seeks in its ranks a spirit of generosity – a natural disposition in each colleague toward service and selfless conduct. National Journal Group writing should be cut from the same cloth –critical on the merits but informed by charity and forbearance in measuring motive and personal character.

National Journal is anEqual Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.