Senior Staff Writer

AlphaX; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AlphaGov in Bethesda, MD is seeking a Senior Staff Writer to report and write stories explaining how public programs, research, and policy decisions affect people. You will spot stories in reports, locate key voices, and translate complex topics into clear, engaging pieces for print and digital audiences.

You will interview researchers, public officials, frontline staff, and community members; verify claims with documents and data; and manage multiple stories from pitch through publication,

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of journalism or editorial experience.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, or related field.
• Portfolio of published work demonstrating interviewing and long-form writing.
• Experience verifying facts and quotations 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

Original reporting

Interviewing

Story pitching

Fact-checking

Editing collaboration

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.

• 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.