Writer and Author (Print Journalism)

CA&M; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

CA&M, Inc. is seeking a dynamic Writer and Author (Print Journalism) to capture and share the powerful stories of innovation, compassion, and service that define the institution. You will lead editorial projects from concept to publication for print and digital platforms.

The ideal candidate has a journalism background, strong storytelling ability, and project management skills to drive a proactive news-gathering operation in a regulated environment with HIPAA/PHI considerations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field.
• Security clearance at the SECRET Level is required.
• 5+ years of proven journalism or professional writing experience with a strong portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Manage an editorial calendar for print and long-form digital publications.
• Develop and pitch investigative stories aligned with strategic objectives.
• Conduct thorough interviews with medical staff, patients, and experts to craft compelling narratives.
• Coordinate multimedia elements with photographers, videographers, and designers.

Skills

Editorial calendar

Investigative storytelling

AP Style

Interviewing

Media relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism

Tools

WordPress

CMS

Job description

CA&M, Inc. a small business dedicated to providing creative solutions for government clients and is accepting resumes for a contingent hire position (a proposal is being built and submitted, and the awardee performs the work).

We are currently accepting resumes for a Writer and Author (Print Journalism) that is a dynamic and compelling Writer and Author (Print Journalism) to capture and share the powerful stories of innovation, compassion, and service that define the institution. This role requires an inquisitive and skilled journalist who can manage editorial projects from concept to publication, creating rich, long-form content for our print and digital platforms. The ideal candidate is a master storyteller with the project management acumen to drive a proactive news-gathering operation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field.
• Ability or possesses a Security Clearance at the SECRET Level.
• 5+ years of proven experience in journalism or professional writing, supported by a strong portfolio of published articles that demonstrate exceptional skills in interviewing, narrative storytelling, and long-form writing.
• Proven experience in healthcare communications, Military public affairs, or a similar regulated, high-visibility environment.
• A thorough understanding of and ability to rigorously apply the principles of safeguarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Protected Health Information (PHI), especially when interviewing patients.
• Excellent project management skills, with proven ability to manage an editorial calendar, develop content strategies, and see multiple stories through to completion simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to build rapport and trust with interview subjects from all walks of life, including patients, families, senior leaders, and world-renowned medical experts.

Key Responsibilities

• Content Strategy & Project Management: Develop and manage a strategic editorial calendar for all print and long-form digital publications. Act as the project lead for all feature stories, from initial pitch and research through interviews, writing, photo/video coordination, layout, and final publication.
• Investigative Storytelling: Proactively identify and develop story ideas that align with strategic communication objectives, focusing on clinical advancements, groundbreaking research, patient success stories, and staff achievements.
• In-Depth Reporting: Conduct thorough, sensitive, and insightful interviews with medical staff, patients, families, and subject matter experts to gather the information and emotional depth required for compelling narratives.
• Multimedia Collaboration: Work in tandem with photographers, videographers, and graphic designers to produce visually stunning, cohesive, and impactful multimedia story packages.
• Craft messaging for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring consistency with organizational goals.
• Monitor media coverage and provide analysis on the effectiveness of public affairs campaigns.
• Plan and execute events, such as press conferences, media briefings, and community engagement activities.
• Support leadership with crisis communication strategies and plans.
• Stakeholder & Media Relations: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with internal SMEs to ensure a steady flow of story leads, and with external media contacts to pitch and place stories when appropriate.
• Compile weekly external communication reports. Submit products to the PAO for review prior to posting on the website and/or intranet.
• Generate editorial ideas for articles and discuss/refine ideas with lead PAO.
• Meet daily and weekly deadlines and ADHOC suspense to support the mission.
• Develop news-pegs, angles, and balanced articles from multiple-sources including interviews with market staff members, military and civilian, patients, and visitors for news releases, feature stories and special publications.
• Schedule interviews with Subject-Matter Experts, working closing with other PAO offices with the approval from the Government Lead.
• Write, rewrite, and edit copy based on AP Style, using active sentences, traditional leads, bridges, transitions, and news format.
• Assist Visitors and numerous callers, Take Media Queries, Coordinate/Moderate Press Interviews, Arrange Media Visits Moderate Press Interviews, generate 2-3 editorial ideas a month, deliver social media post week or as needed based upon the mission. Assist an average of 10 callers per day, Assist with 4 DV visits per month: Updated Website and Social Media sites several times a day. Distribute and average of 2 communications reports weekly.
• Formulates strategies for major issues, management and coordinates messages and theme development for the Market office that are executed through the MTFs. Provides strategic counsel to the senior leaders of and the Market MTFs.
• Develop speeches and briefings to effectively communicate key themes and messages to a wide range of audiences. Coordinates on public website content to support the MHS/DHA communication objectives.