Now Hiring a Half-Time Assistant Editor!
Footnote is looking for a talented writer/editor to collaborate with academics and leading experts to create articles, blog posts, op-eds, and other content communicating their research and ideas to mainstream audiences. You will help researchers give voice to their ideas by clearing away the academic jargon and complexity, teasing out what’s most interesting and impactful at the heart of their work, and translating it into accessible, engaging stories.
At Footnote, we partner with universities, research centers, scholars, and experts to increase the impact and influence of their work by sharing it in outlets such as The Washington Post, Wired, The LA Times, The Boston Globe, The Hill, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review. Our editors work with scholars from schools including Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Duke, University of Southern California, and University of Texas to showcase innovative research and ideas in disciplines ranging from business and technology to public health and education.
Who We Are Looking For
You are a great fit for this position if you can understand and synthesize science and social science research from a range of disciplines, talk intelligently with leading academics about their work, and identify the most compelling and important insights at the heart of a piece of research. As a writer, you should have a knack for:
- Developing compelling story angles and news hooks
- Writing succinct, clear, engaging prose
- Structuring an article with a clear, interesting narrative and logical flow
- Paying attention to detail, including fact-checking and grammar
- Incorporating ideas and feedback from others (in other words, being a collaborator and editor, not just a writer)
You should also excel at working independently and remotely; managing projects and tasks in a timely, organized manner; and communicating well with a virtual team and with clients. Experience with any of the following is an added bonus:
- Pitching and publishing at prominent outlets, understanding the media landscape and the styles and requirements of different publications
- Writing social media posts and developing social media campaigns
- Interacting with leading academics or serving clients in any type of external-facing role
The Position & Organization
This is a salaried, half-time role (20 hours a week) that pays the equivalent of $25-35 an hour, depending on experience level and skill set. The Assistant Editor will be a core part of our editorial team, collaborating with other Footnote editors on projects and interfacing directly with academics and clients.
We are a small company with team members across the country and leadership based in Washington, D.C. and Boston. We care about the mission behind what we do and about building a sustainable, successful organization with a positive work culture. To learn more about Footnote, please check out our work at http://footnote.co and this Inside Higher Ed article by our Executive Editor that discusses our mission.
How to Apply
If you are interested in the position, please send a short email introduction, a resume, and 3-5 writing samples to connect @ footnote.co with the subject line “Application for Assistant Editor position.”
The most helpful writing samples for us to review are 800-1,000 word articles designed for a general audience, particularly any pieces that have been published in mainstream media outlets. Your samples should showcase your ability to translate complex ideas and research into compelling, engaging stories. We’d like to see pieces you’ve edited or collaborated with others on, if you have them, in addition to ones you’ve written solo.
In your email introduction, here are some things we’d like to know:
- What excites you about this position? What drives your passion for communicating complex ideas and research to the public?
- Do you have experience working as an editor or collaborator, in addition to writing your own pieces? How do you feel these roles differ?
- What topics in science and social science are most compelling to you?
- Do you have experience working in an academic setting or collaborating with researchers?
- How did you find this job posting?
Note: We are always on the lookout for freelance editors to work with on a project-by-project basis. If you think you’d be a good fit for Footnote but not for this particular position, feel free to reach out about freelance options (please include “freelance” in the subject line).
Last updated April 25, 2024.