Breaking News Reporter

Mother Jones is looking for a ferociously hungry blogger to join our fast-moving news desk—someone who wakes up checking headlines, instinctively pounces on breaking stories, and can turn around multiple clean, sharp posts every day without breaking a sweat. 

While there may be the occasional opportunity to report longer-form stories, this role is built for someone who loves the rhythm, pace, and adrenaline of daily news and the challenge of beating competitors by minutes—not hours. As a core part of our news operation, you’ll help set daily priorities with editors and confidently identify what deserves coverage on your own. You should be comfortable writing two to three pieces a day, ranging from tight breaking-news hits to punchy analysis blogs with personality. The ideal candidate knows exactly what a sharp headline looks like: clever without being cutesy, clear without being dull, urgent without being overwrought.

You’ll also collaborate with a senior editor to co-host our flagship daily newsletter, the Mother Jones Daily, contributing incisive takes on top national headlines and helping highlight our features and investigations.

A writing test will be requested of final candidates that evaluates speed, news judgment, headline instincts, and clarity of voice.

Qualifications

• Able to work at least 37.5 hours/week, including some weekends.
• Minimum of two years of newsroom or editorial experience, ideally in a fact-checking or production-heavy environment.
• Seasoned writer with a demonstrated track record of publishing multiple stories a day.
• Excellent news judgment, someone who possesses a natural understanding of when to include flair and analysis and when to play it straight.
• Uncompromising commitment to accuracy; this writer should strive to turn in clean and accurate copy ready for quick edits.
• Ability to establish news priorities on their own but also willing to debate and talk through ideas with colleagues.
• A sharp grasp of clever headlines that don’t compromise on fairness.
• Familiarity with publishing workflows and editorial tools (e.g., CMS platforms, Google Docs/Sheets).