Senior Staff Writer

AlphaGov; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AlphaGov is seeking a Senior Staff Writer to develop editorial and communications opportunities. You'll report and write original stories that explain how public programs, research, and policy decisions affect people.

You'll spot stories in reports, connect with people affected, and translate complex subjects into clear, engaging pieces. Join a team that collaborates with editors, designers, photographers, and video producers to tell important public-interest stories.

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in journalism, feature writing, or an editorial role that includes original reporting.
• Portfolio of published work demonstrating interviewing, long-form writing, and explaining complex subjects to a general audience.
• Experience verifying facts and quotations, handling sensitive interviews with care, and meeting publication deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Pitch and write reported features, profiles, and explanatory articles for print and digital audiences
• Interview researchers, public officials, frontline staff, and community members
• Use original documents, data, and interviews to verify claims and give readers context
• Manage several stories from pitch through publication, coordinating interviews, drafts, fact-checks, and editorial review
• Work with editors, designers, photographers, and video producers to choose the best way to tell each story

Skills

Interviewing

Feature writing

Original reporting

Story pitching

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism or related field

Job description

AlphaGov is seeking a Senior Staff Writer for future editorial and communications opportunities. You'll report and write original stories that explain how public programs, research, and policy decisions affect people. We're looking for a writer who can spot a story in a report, find the people closest to it, and bring their perspectives into an accurate, readable piece.

What You’ll Do

• Pitch and write reported features, profiles, and explanatory articles for print and digital audiences
• Interview researchers, public officials, frontline staff, and community members. Ask follow-up questions that uncover details readers would otherwise miss
• Use original documents, data, and interviews to verify claims and give readers context
• Manage several stories from pitch through publication, coordinating interviews, drafts, fact-checks, and editorial review
• Work with editors, designers, photographers, and video producers to choose the best way to tell each story

Requirements

• At least five years of experience in journalism, feature writing, or a professional editorial role that includes original reporting
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, or a related field
• A portfolio of published work demonstrating interviewing, long-form writing, and the ability to explain complex subjects to a general audience
• Experience verifying facts and quotations, handling sensitive interviews with care, and meeting publication deadlines

Nice to have

• Reporting experience in government, healthcare, education, workforce issues, science, or public policy
• Experience using public records, survey findings, or research data to develop an original story