Remote Freelance Crime & Courts Journalist

Guessing Headlights; United States; Remote; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Guessing Headlights is seeking a Freelance Crime, Courts & Law Enforcement Journalist to uncover compelling stories hidden in police reports, court filings, lawsuits, and local news.

This is a remote 1099 freelance position starting at $25+/hour, depending on experience. Applicants must be based in the United States. Strong reporting, sourcing, and verification skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong reporting, sourcing, and verification skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Follow stories beyond the initial headline by digging through primary sources.
• Uncover details from police reports, court filings, lawsuits, and local news to build compelling narratives.
• Turn complex cases into accurate, engaging stories for readers.

Skills

News instincts

Story discovery

Sourcing

Verification

Remote freelance

Job description

We're hiring!

Guessing Headlights is looking for a Freelance Crime, Courts & Law Enforcement Journalist with strong news instincts and a knack for uncovering fascinating stories hiding in police reports, court filings, lawsuits, and local news.

We're looking for someone who loves finding stories about:

• Police and law enforcement
• Crime and criminal cases
• Courts, trials and sentencing
• Lawsuits and legal disputes
• Police pursuits, DUIs and unusual traffic cases
• Bodycam, dashcam and surveillance video
• Fraud, scams and alleged schemes
• Unusual arrests and investigations
• Incredible details buried in court filings

The ideal candidate is curious, knows how to follow a story beyond the initial headline, and enjoys digging through primary sources to uncover the details that make a good story great.

Strong reporting, sourcing, and verification skills are important, along with the ability to turn complicated cases into accurate, engaging stories people actually want to read.

We're looking for writers interested in contributing on a regular, ongoing basis and becoming part of our freelance team.

This is a remote 1099 freelance position starting at $25+/hour, depending on experience. Applicants must be based in the United States.

Interested? Email [click apply] with a little about yourself, your journalism experience, availability, and 2–3 relevant writing samples.