Features/Real Life Writer, US

Daily Mail US; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Daily Mail US in New York seeks an experienced US Features / Real Life Writer to join the US Features desk. You will focus on real-life and “As Told To” features while covering showbiz, crime, health, politics, and more.

Collaborate with editors across the newsroom to identify compelling stories, develop case studies, and deliver engaging features at speed. The role requires excellent storytelling, strong news judgment, and the ability to deliver polished copy under tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a features journalist in a newsroom or digital publication.
• Proven ability to produce engaging, fast-paced features for a mass-audience.
• Experience writing real-life and/or “As Told To” features is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Write 1,000–1,400-word features across various topics.
• Develop original interviews and case studies for compelling stories.
• Pitch strong story ideas daily and secure interviewees and sources.
• Conduct interviews, research, and source images for features.
• Turn complex subjects into accessible, engaging digital pieces.
• Publish and optimize stories in the CMS under tight deadlines.
• Collaborate with editors and photo editors to maximize reach.
• Contribute to follow-up coverage and enterprise features as needed.
• Restructure and adapt content while upholding editorial standards.
• Ensure reporting meets legal and ethical standards.

Skills

Feature journalism

Interviewing

Storytelling

Digital journalism

Research

CMS usage

Tools

Content management system

Digital tools

Job description

The Daily Mail reaches over a billion people globally every month. Renowned for its agenda-setting exclusives, breaking news, incisive commentary, and in-depth investigations, we deliver a unique editorial blend spanning showbiz, royals, lifestyle, health, sport, money, and more.

Our extensive reach, influence, and reader loyalty make us a premium destination for more than 300,000 digital subscribers across the UK, US, Australia, and beyond. The Daily Mail also maintains a powerful presence across social media, engaging more than 150 million followers and delivering more than 6 billion video views each month across platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, dynamic features journalist to join the growing US Features desk in our New York office.

As a US Features / Real Life Writer, you will focus primarily on compelling real-life and “As Told To” features, while also producing impactful, engaging journalism across showbiz, celebrity, crime, health, politics, and other news-driven subjects.

Working closely with editors, photo editors, and colleagues across the newsroom, you will identify compelling stories, develop case studies and interviews, and produce highly engaging features at speed. This role requires excellent storytelling skills, strong news judgment, creativity, and the ability to deliver polished copy to tight deadlines.

The Features department plays a crucial role in helping the Daily Mail achieve its North Star goal of 1 million global subscribers by 2028, producing journalism that attracts, retains, and delights readers.

About What You'll Do

• Write fast, engaging 1,000–1,400-word features across real life, showbiz, celebrity, crime, health, politics, and other news-driven subjects.
• Develop compelling “As Told To” and real-life features based on original interviews and case studies.
• Pitch strong, original story ideas on a daily basis.
• Identify and secure compelling case studies, interviewees, experts, and sources.
• Conduct interviews and research to uncover distinctive and engaging stories.
• Turn complex or sensitive subjects into accessible, compelling digital features.
• Work closely with photo editors to source and select images that effectively illustrate articles.
• Build and publish stories using a content management system.
• Work quickly and accurately to tight editorial deadlines.
• Collaborate with editors and colleagues across the newsroom to maximize the reach and impact of features.
• Contribute to follow-up coverage and enterprise features as required.
• Restructure and adapt opinion or other editorial content where appropriate.
• Ensure all reporting meets the highest editorial, legal, and ethical standards.

About You

The ideal candidate is an experienced features journalist with a strong instinct for compelling stories and a proven ability to produce engaging journalism at speed. You are naturally curious, creative, and confident in finding the human angle that will make a story resonate with a large digital audience.

You have excellent interviewing and storytelling skills, understand what makes a strong real-life feature, and are comfortable working in a fast-paced newsroom where priorities can change quickly.

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a feature writer at a newspaper, news website, magazine, television news show, or comparable newsroom.
• Proven experience producing compelling, impactful features for a digital or mass-market audience.
• Experience writing real-life and/or “As Told To” features is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of the DailyMail.com brand, editorial voice, and audience.
• Understanding of the types of stories that attract, retain, and delight subscribers.
• Outstanding writing, interviewing, research, and storytelling skills.
• Ability to generate compelling story ideas consistently and work quickly under pressure.
• Strong online research skills and familiarity with digital research tools.
• Excellent editorial judgment and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple stories and competing deadlines.
• Experience covering real life, crime, celebrity, showbiz, politics, health, or human interest is a plus.
• Experience restructuring opinion articles is advantageous.
• Experience working with content management systems is desirable.
• Flexibility to work outside standard hours when required.

About What We Offer

• Fast-paced, collaborative newsroom environment in our New York office.
• Competitive salary of $90,000–$110,000.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k).
• Generous paid time off.
• The opportunity to produce features read by millions of readers worldwide.
• The chance to work on high-impact real-life stories and help shape the Daily Mail's features agenda.

About Our Commitment

Daily Mail US is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We are committed to fostering diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in alternative formats or reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process. Any such information will be held separately from your application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.