National Reporter, Healthbeat

Job Description

Civic News Company, parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally; Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; and Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting, is seeking an experienced National Reporter, Healthbeat, to lead our national public health coverage during this moment of disruption. 

You will cover major health policy developments and bridge national issues with their impact on local communities by working closely with reporters in New York City and Atlanta. Guided by our tagline, “Public health, explained,” you will provide clear context to changes that ripple from Washington to neighborhoods across America and communities worldwide. Collaborating with our local teams, you will connect the dots to help audiences better understand public health and Americans’ role within it.

We are looking for someone driven by boundless curiosity, with knowledge and experience in how public health works locally, nationally, and globally. The ideal candidate has a strong ability to write about complex topics in a relatable way and understands how to work with public health data, especially as much of that data faces increasing challenges.

We welcome candidates who bring fresh ideas or creative approaches that align with our mission and goals. If you have a unique vision for making this position most effective, we encourage you to share it with us.

This position reports to the Editor in Chief, Healthbeat. 

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Propose and develop compelling content ideas in collaboration with editors. 

• Report and write in various formats, from breaking news and quick hits to in-depth enterprise stories, Q&A interviews, explainers, and more. 

• Produce a minimum of two stories per week. 

• Represent Healthbeat at community events and media appearances. 

• Mentor and coach Healthbeat’s local reporters and collaborate with partners as needed. 

• Use diverse reporting methods, including interviews, on-the-ground reporting, public records requests, document and archival research, and data analysis. 

• Contribute to the creation of social media content, including vertical videos, to around stories. 

• Ensure all reporting and writing meet the highest standards of accuracy, balance, and clarity. 

• Work closely with editors to revise and refine stories based on feedback. 

• Collaborate with team members on publishing tasks such as photo coordination, data visualization, article production, social media promotion, and newsletter development. 

• Build and maintain effective relationships with readers and key figures in the public health community. 

• Participate in audience engagement events and outreach initiatives led by the audience team. 

Job Requirements

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!)

• 7 to 10 years of journalism experience, preferably with a focus on health, science, or government. 

• Knowledge of federal public health infrastructure, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, related agencies, and academic institutions. 

• Understanding of both national and global public health topics and networks. 

• Proven ability to cultivate trusted sources and generate compelling story ideas.

• A strong track record of producing journalism or communications that make an impact.

• Comfort working with data, research, and complex reports. 

• Experience telling stories through a variety of formats beyond traditional narrative journalism. 

• Familiarity with public records reporting and Georgia’s open records laws. 

• Ability to clearly and authoritatively explain complex scientific and health-related topics.

• Proven capacity to write compelling, well-structured stories on both tight deadlines and longer timelines. 

• Proficiency with digital newsroom tools such as Slack, Google Docs, Google Drive, and online publishing platforms.

• A collaborative, team-first attitude with a generous and supportive approach to working with colleagues. 

• Interest in audience engagement and a desire to connect creatively with a diverse range of readers. 

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• In-depth knowledge of public health, showcasing informed reporting on issues including epidemiology, readiness for health emergencies and how public policy affects frontline workers

• Experience covering food, water, and air safety, climate change, and other issues linked to global public health. 

• Background in covering the health care sector.

• Background in science journalism. 

• Experience reporting on research, development, and technological advances in health and science. 

• Fluency in Spanish for reporting. 

• Video and audio production skills.

This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based in Washington, D.C., New York City, or Atlanta. Civic News Company has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C. 

The salary range is $80,000 to $96,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance

• 20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess

• 401(k) matching program

• Paid parental leave

Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.

About Civic News Company
 

At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.

Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

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