Opinion Fact Checker

The New York Times Company; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid vacation and sick days

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement and professional

Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s)

Job summary

The New York Times Company is seeking a data‑driven fact checker for Opinion to verify guest essays and other opinion journalism. Based in New York, you will apply quantitative analysis to ensure accuracy, with a focus on data‑driven arguments and fair presentation of statistics.

You will work in‑office with some remote flexibility per department guidance, report to an Assistant Editor in Opinion, and collaborate with editors and researchers across the newsroom.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience in statistics, public policy, data science, economics, quantitative social science or applied experience at a think‑tank, non‑profit or governmental statistical agency.
• Experience navigating complex analyses and pushing back to question data sources and analyses.
• Experience in survey research and modelling.
• Data handling experience — fluency in a statistical programming language such as R or Python.

Responsibilities

• Verify the accuracy of information and analysis contained in data‑driven guest essays and other forms of opinion journalism.
• Eliminating errors, ensuring fairness and accuracy and correcting contradictions and omissions.
• Verifying datasets and other forms of quantitative information and analysis.
• Breaking down quantitative analysis to general, non‑expert readers.
• Seeing the work through all stages of the publishing process.
• Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

Skills

Data analysis

Statistics

R/Python

Survey research

Data handling

Tools

R

Python

Job description

Office: New York, NY
Department: Journalism — Editing

Job Description

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.

The New York Times Opinion section is looking for a fact-checker to work on guest essays and other work produced by Opinion, with a specific emphasis on data-driven essays. The job, which is staff-editor level, based in New York, is a great opportunity for someone who is organized, detail-oriented, experienced in applying data analysis to journalism and has broad-ranging news interests.

The fact checker must have ease in working with and analyzing complex datasets; strong quantitative and statistical reasoning skills; a devotion to the highest standards of accuracy and verification; the ability to dive into unfamiliar material on deadline; and a strong interest in both data and opinion journalism. Collegiality and diplomacy are essential.

This is an in-office position, based in New York City and includes regular attendance in the office. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per your departmental guidance.

Responsibilities

This fact checker will perform functions that include, but are not limited to, the following:

Verify the accuracy of information and analysis contained in data-driven guest essays and other forms of opinion journalism.

Eliminating errors, ensuring fairness and accuracy and correcting contradictions and omissions.

Verifying datasets and other forms of quantitative information and analysis.

Breaking down quantitative analysis to general, non-expert readers.

Seeing the work through all stages of the publishing process.

Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

You will report to an Assistant Editor in Opinion.

Basic Qualifications

At least 2 years of experience in statistics, public policy, data science, economics, quantitative social science or applied experience at a think‑tank, non‑profit or governmental statistical agency.

Experience navigating complex analyses and pushing back to question data sources and analyses.

Experience in survey research and modelling.

Data handling experience — fluency in a statistical programming language such as R or Python.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in fact-checking, writing or editing.

Experience applying data analysis in journalism.

An appreciation for Opinion journalism and understanding of the broader media landscape.

This position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.

REQ-020956

Additional Compensation and Benefits

• medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s)
• a company-matching 401(k) plan
• employee stock purchase plan
• paid vacation
• paid sick days
• paid parental leave
• tuition reimbursement and professional development programs

For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process

The annual base pay range for this role is between:

$113,945.85 — $115,000 USD

Candidate Use of GenAI Tools

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world’s best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. To do so, we embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Know Your Rights Poster is available here .

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