Breaking News Writer Fellowship
Truthout is seeking a 20-hour-per-week breaking news writing fellow.
You:
You’re a strong emerging writer who is keen to broaden your knowledge and skills by learning valuable publishing and social media strategies in a leading independent news organization. You are passionate about progressive politics and avidly follow breaking news and social media responses to it. You understand how news stories develop and evolve, and are eager to learn more about this process.
You’re at home on Facebook and Twitter, follow influential organizations and people on social media, and understand the growing importance of social media as an entry point for traffic. You have broad familiarity with a wide range of topics including electoral politics, U.S. foreign policy, activist movements in the U.S., judicial and legislative processes, and more, and are looking for a fellowship in which you can expand your knowledge of these topics. You’re interested in increasing the reach of independent, nonprofit news in an increasingly corporate media landscape, and you’re ready to use your skills to further Truthout’s mission.
Us:
Truthout is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing independent reporting and commentary on a diverse range of social justice issues. Since our founding in 2001, we have anchored our work in principles of accuracy, transparency, and independence from the influence of corporate and partisan forces.
Truthout is committed to a vision of journalism in pursuit of justice. We understand that courageous journalism can and does drive social transformation. Through our work, we reveal systemic injustice; provide a platform for powerful ideas; elevate authentic storytelling; and develop journalistic practices that align with our dedication to accountability, equity and integrity. We believe in building the world we want to live in — within our organization, through our journalistic work, and through our work’s impact on society.
The Role:
As Truthout’s Breaking News Fellow, you will learn to utilize social listening tools to identify relevant trending stories and write short, quick pieces around them — including pieces on social media responses, responses from politicians, activists and people directly affected by the changes, and new developments and context. Working with our editorial and social media teams, you will be responsible for writing the text, selecting supporting material (tweet embeds, quotes etc.), choosing the story’s image, writing the headline and publishing the piece in WordPress. You will generally be responsible for producing two very short pieces (no longer than 500 words apiece) on the top news of the day within five hours. There may be some other duties as assigned.
You will engage in rigorous analysis of your own work and continually strive to improve its impact.
This is a fully remote, work-from-home fellowship position, and applicants are welcome from anywhere in the United States. BIPOC, women, LGBTQ candidates, and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Truthout offers a competitive salary, an industry-leading benefits package, generous paid time off, and a friendly and open work environment.
This paid fellowship requires 20 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Fellows must be able to work on Eastern Time. There is a brief trial period to assess whether the fellow is able to meet the basic requirements of the job, after which point the fellowship is guaranteed for a minimum of 6 months. This is a position with opportunity for growth and professional development, and comes with a stipend of $2,000 per month (in addition to an internet reimbursement and phone reimbursement stipend).
Requirements:
- Dependable, deadline-driven and punctual;
- Excellent writing skills;
- At least 2 years of journalistic experience;
- Enthusiastic and passionate about Truthout’s work;
- Already established practices of near-constant monitoring of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram;
- Experience creating content with significant reach;
- Well versed in a wide range of topics including electoral politics, U.S. foreign policy, activist movements in the U.S., judicial and legislative processes.
- Ability to thrive in collaborative spaces;
- Able to successfully deliver two short but solid pieces within five hours and respond with flexibility to unanticipated requests;
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with a very high level of detail;
- Able to adapt and multi-task;
- Enjoys working both independently and as part of a small team;
- Experience working with both Word and shared Google documents and spreadsheets
- Familiar with the broader social media landscape of online news publications;
- Able to communicate in a friendly, thoughtful and effective manner via online chat, phone, video call and email;
- Has reliable access to internet during specified work hours.
Preferred:
- Experience with website and social media analytics, including Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, Sprout Social and/or CrowdTangle;
- Experience with social listening tools, including BuzzSumo;
- Basic knowledge of WordPress;
- A demonstrable body of journalistic work that our team can evaluate to decide if you’re a good fit for the Truthout team.
How to Apply:
Email a cover letter, resume, two relevant references, two writing samples and any supporting material (such as links to articles you have written) to [email protected] with the subject line “Breaking News Fellowship application” by end of day June 15, 2022.
Major Gifts and Institutional Giving Specialist
Truthout is seeking a Major Gifts and Institutional Giving Specialist to grow our large donor and foundation giving program. This is a contract position and can be full or part-time, with flexible hours.
You:
You’re a skilled fundraiser who has experience prospecting and securing large gifts from progressive media funders. You are comfortable with hands-on work at every possible stage of the giving pipeline – from research and direct contact to writing applications and submitting reports. You have broad familiarity with a wide range of political topics. You are deeply devoted to the values of racial, economic, social, environmental and disability justice, as well as intersectional feminism, anti-imperialism, prison abolition and anti-colonialism. You’re interested in increasing the funding of independent, nonprofit news amid an increasingly corporate media landscape, and you’re ready to use your skills to further Truthout’s mission. You are comfortable working in a results-oriented position.
Us:
Truthout is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing independent reporting and commentary on a diverse range of social justice issues. Since our founding in 2001, we have anchored our work in principles of accuracy, transparency, and independence from the influence of corporate and partisan forces.
Truthout is committed to a vision of journalism in pursuit of justice. We understand that courageous journalism can and does drive social transformation. Through our work, we reveal systemic injustice; provide a platform for powerful ideas; elevate authentic storytelling; and develop journalistic practices that align with our dedication to accountability, equity and integrity. We believe in building the world we want to live in — within our organization, through our journalistic work, and through our work’s impact on society.
The Role:
As Truthout’s Major Gifts and Institutional Giving Specialist you will be responsible for expanding our large donor and foundation giving program. While there will be some amount of existing current and lapsed funder stewardship your primary focus will be on prospecting and securing new funding from individuals and foundations.
This is a fully remote, work-from-home, contract position and can be full or part-time. Applicants are welcome from anywhere in the United States. BIPOC, women and LGBTQ candidates and disabled candidates, as well as candidates from other marginalized communities, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Work with Truthout’s Publisher and Development Director to develop and implement strategies to grow our large donor and foundation giving program
- Research and connect with institutional media funders
- Write LOI’s, proposals and reports
- Prospect and contact both existing and new large donors.
- Build and maintain relationships with individual donors through email, mail, phone calls and in person meetings (some travel will be required)
- Be adept in crafting direct fundraising appeals that utilize both rational and emotional arguments
- Be comfortable making direct asks for donations to individuals via phone, email or in person
- Demonstrate a thorough awareness of the current independent and online media landscape
- Maintain donor and foundation database
- Be able to fluently communicate Truthout’s unique identity to readers, donors and funders
- Track grant deadlines and work accordingly
- Willingness to take on various relevant tasks as assigned
Background & Qualifications:
- Minimum 3 years experience managing major gift or foundation giving programs
- Knowledge of the media funder landscape and current fundraising trends and best practices
- Have the ability to meet deadlines and juggle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating adaptability and flexibility
- Possess excellent writing and communication skills
- Enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Truthout’s work
- Read Truthout regularly and demonstrate an understanding of and affinity with Truthout’s identity, ethos and mission
- Thrive working in remote environments, and enjoy working both independently and as part of a small, collaborative team
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with a very high level of detail
How to Apply:
Email a cover letter, resume and two relevant references to [email protected] with the subject line “Major Gifts and Institutional Giving Specialist” by end of day June 15, 2022.