Journalist Author/Writer

Fidelity Partners•Bethesda, MD

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Writer and Author develops accurate, engaging print and long-form digital journalism communicating Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s clinical advances, research, patient experiences, staff achievements, and strategic messages. The role manages stories from concept through publication and supports public affairs, media relations, and crisis communications. This is an on-site, full-time position at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, supporting the Defense Health Agency. The position is contingent upon contract award. The base period is December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2027, with two potential one-year option periods through November 30, 2029. The position works Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays and Government-directed facility closures. The exact daily shift is unspecified; occasional support outside normal duty hours may be required for contingency activations or exercises. All work is unclassified. Employment requires a favorable Tier II non-critical sensitive background investigation, applicable SF-85 or SF-86 processing, Common Access Card eligibility, identity verification, a nondisclosure agreement, security and HIPAA training, network-access approval, and completion of DHA and facility onboarding requirements. No routine travel requirement is specified.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field.
At least five years of journalism or professional-writing experience.
A portfolio demonstrating interviewing, narrative storytelling, and long-form writing.
Experience in healthcare communications, military public affairs, or a similar regulated, high-visibility environment.
Understanding and rigorous application of HIPAA and Protected Health Information requirements, particularly when interviewing patients and families.
Excellent project-management skills and ability to manage an editorial calendar, develop content strategies, and complete multiple stories concurrently.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with patients, families, medical professionals, senior leaders, and other interview subjects.
Strong command of AP style, newswriting structure, research, fact-checking, editing, and deadline-driven publication workflows.
Satisfy Tier II background, CAC, training, NDA, network-access, onboarding, and facility-access requirements.
Submit a current resume documenting at least five years of qualifying journalism or professional-writing experience, a portfolio of published articles or writing samples, a copy of the required bachelor’s degree or supporting education documentation, and any requested background, identification, security, HIPAA, training, NDA, CAC, network-access, or onboarding documents.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage an editorial calendar for print and long-form digital publications aligned with WRNMMC strategic communication objectives.
Lead feature stories from pitch and research through interviews, drafting, editing, multimedia coordination, layout, approval, and publication.
Identify and develop stories about clinical advancements, research, patient success, staff achievements, public-health priorities, and command initiatives.
Conduct sensitive, thorough interviews with patients, families, medical staff, subject matter experts, military and civilian personnel, and senior leaders.
Write, rewrite, and edit news releases, feature stories, special publications, speeches, briefings, web content, and social-media copy using AP style and accepted journalism practices.
Coordinate with photographers, videographers, graphic designers, editors, and public affairs personnel to produce cohesive multimedia story packages.
Develop messaging for internal and external audiences and help leadership prepare for major issues and crisis-communication requirements.
Respond to media inquiries; coordinate interviews and media visits; and support press conferences, briefings, distinguished-visitor events, and community engagement activities.
Monitor media coverage, maintain relationships with internal subject matter experts and external media contacts, and provide communications analysis and weekly reports.
Generate recurring editorial ideas, meet daily, weekly, and ad hoc suspense requirements, and submit products for Public Affairs Office review before release.
Update authorized website, intranet, and social-media content as assigned while protecting HIPAA-regulated information, PHI, PII, and other sensitive information.
Complete required orientation, annual training, security awareness, HIPAA training, and other Government-directed training, and comply with WRNMMC and DHA policies and procedures.