Writer & Author (Print Journalism)

B&P Solutions, LLC; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

B&P Solutions, LLC is seeking an experienced Writer & Author to support Defense Health Agency and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. This on-site role requires master storytelling, editorial leadership, and project management to drive proactive news gathering and publish rich, long-form content for print and digital platforms.

The ideal candidate will manage editorial calendars, conduct sensitive interviews, coordinate multimedia packages, and craft messaging aligned with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field.
• 5+ years of proven experience in journalism or professional writing with published articles.
• Experience in healthcare communications or public affairs in a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of HIPAA/PHI principles when interviewing patients.
• Strong editorial calendar management and multi-story coordination.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a strategic editorial calendar for print and long-form digital publications.
• Lead feature stories from pitch through publication, coordinating with photographers and designers.
• Conduct interviews with staff, patients, families, and experts for in-depth narratives.
• Craft messaging for internal and external stakeholders in line with organizational goals.
• Monitor media coverage and analyze public affairs campaigns.
• Plan events, press conferences, and community engagements; support crisis communication.
• Maintain relationships with internal SMEs and external media contacts for story leads.
• Generate editorial ideas and coordinate with the lead PAO.
• Write, rewrite, and edit copy based on AP Style; meet deadlines.

Skills

Editorial calendar

Interviewing

Long-form writing

AP Style

Project management

Healthcare communications

Public affairs

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism or Communications

Job description

B&P Solutions, LLC is seeking an experienced Writer & Author to support Defense Health Agency, Hospital Communications and Executive Secretariat Support Services at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 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 a project management acumen to drive a proactive news-gathering operation. This position is performed on-site at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, unless otherwise authorized by the Government.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• 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.
• Proactively identify and develop story ideas that align with strategic communication objectives, focusing on clinical advancements, groundbreaking research, patient success stories, and staff achievements.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 closely 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, generate 2-3 editorial ideas a month and deliver social media post weekly or as needed based upon the mission.
• Assist with 4 DV visits per month.
• Update website and social media sites several times per day and distribute an average of 2 communications reports weekly.
• Formulate strategies for major issues, manage and coordinate messages and theme development for the Market office that are executed through the MTFs. Provide 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field.
• 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.
• Must be available for occasional support outside normal duty hours during contingency activations or exercises, as required by the contract.