Editorial Research & Data Associate

National Journal•Washington, DC

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

National Journal is seeking an Editorial Research & Data Associate to join their editorial team. This role is responsible for producing National Journal Daily, a daily political and policy newsletter aimed at government affairs professionals. The associate will curate, research, and help produce the newsletter by synthesizing news, data, and insights. The goal is to deliver timely, high-quality analysis and graphics that help professionals understand and navigate the forces shaping Washington and state politics. This is an early-career position for an analyst or journalist who enjoys uncovering the stories beneath the surface, connecting dots across the policy landscape, and making complex developments clear and interesting for others. The role involves working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where precision and timeliness are crucial.

Requirements

Experience in graphic design tools like Datawrapper and Canva.
A strong interest in politics and policy, and an instinct for what’s meaningful or surprising to decision-makers in business, advocacy, and government.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills — you can juggle multiple deadlines without losing sight of quality or detail.
Demonstrated writing and editing ability, ideally through journalism coursework, campus publications, or early professional experience.
Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where precision and timeliness matter.
Facility with AI tools (e.g., for research, drafting, and data visualization) and a curiosity for how they can enhance editorial work while maintaining factual accuracy.
A problem-solver’s mindset — you can anticipate challenges, adapt quickly, and keep things moving.
A keen editorial eye for what makes content compelling, useful, and shareable.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
Earned bachelor’s degree; background in journalism, communications, political science, public policy, or related fields preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience with HubSpot or similar content management platforms is a plus, as is experience with Python or similar web-scraping tools.

Responsibilities

Create daily charts and graphics from a variety of data sources that show the big picture of the day into one easy-to-digest visual.
Curate the day's political and policy news from across national and state sources, identifying the most relevant and thought-provoking developments for our inside-the-Beltway audience of government affairs professionals, Capitol Hill staffers, and political consultants.
Contribute original content ranging from short-form data reporting projects to longer, more in-depth dives into data that will appear in National Journal publications.
Leverage AI tools to assist in data collection, research, summarization, and content production, using good editorial judgment and fact-checking rigor.
Collaborate with different teams to align coverage, manage deadlines, and maintain editorial consistency.
Search for new academic studies, think tank papers, charts, and congressional testimony that illuminate politics and policy and help our readers make sense of it.
Coordinate recurring newsletter content and help manage production workflows, ensuring daily, weekly, and monthly features are delivered on time and at a high standard of quality.