Data Journalism Editor, IRW

American University•Washington, DC

9d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW) seeks an outstanding data journalist to lead its data and artificial intelligence journalism efforts. This role involves mentoring others, translating complex data into impactful investigative stories, and contributing creatively and strategically to the newsroom. The Data Journalism Editor handles daily and long-term data assignments for various journalism projects within IRW, a nonprofit newsroom based at the School of Communication. The Data Editor collaborates with other editors, interns, and graduate fellows on data collection, data cleaning, data management, data analysis, and data visualizations. The position reports to the Executive Editor and works under general supervision, interacting with other staff, students, faculty, and consultants at IRW. The Data Journalism Editor ensures that data-driven investigations are based on sound data management and analysis principles, and that data findings are accurate and adhere to accepted best practices in journalism. The ideal candidate will have at least three to five years of experience in data journalism, including statistical analysis and reporting stories from data, with some programming experience. Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models, and their applications is preferred. The role is for a journalist passionate about finding stories within underrepresented communities and committed to accurate storytelling across platforms. Exceptional candidates with relevant skills not precisely matching the description are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent
3 - 5 years of relevant experience
Statistical analysis and reporting stories from data
Some experience in programming

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models and their applications
Master's degree or equivalent
Proficiency in Statistics and statistical analysis tools, including RESTful Service Query Language (RSQL), Excel, Python
Expertise in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), and other public-records resources
Server management
Database management, especially Postgres
Web development, especially news applications and data visualization tools

Responsibilities

Develop and execute plans for acquiring, analyzing, cleaning, and presenting data used by the Investigative Reporting Workshop for potential stories.
Pitch and develop story ideas for future projects.
Check and re-check thousands of documents, reviewing the work of student journalists and graduate fellows who obtain data and documents through public-records requests, court records, and online sources.
Draft or assign drafts of all methodology used in stories and projects for potential publication.
Develop ideas for on-site workshops and events, and participate in panels at national conferences, including, but not limited to, IRE and NICAR.
Frequently speak to American University’s graduate boot-camp students and to the Dow Jones training workshops for business reporters held at American University.
Maintain frequent contact with smaller nonprofit newsrooms working with IRW on data-heavy projects.
Other assignments as needed.