Contract Writer for U.S. News & World Report, News Awards Project
U.S. News & World Report is a multifaceted digital media company dedicated to helping citizens, consumers, business leaders and policy officials make important decisions in their lives. We publish independent reporting, rankings, data journalism and advice that has earned the trust of our readers and users for more than 90 years. Our platforms on usnews.com include Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Ideas & Opinions and 360 Reviews.
We reach more than 40 million people monthly during moments when they are most in need of expert advice and motivated to act on that advice directly on our platforms. Our signature franchises include our “Best” series of consumer guides on colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, diets, cars, financial services and more. These guides provide an easy-to-digest list for consumers to better understand and compare when making their decisions. We continue to publish annual guides of the authoritative Best Colleges and Best Hospitals rankings on our website and in print. And our U.S. News Live flagship conferences highlight important national conversations including Healthcare of Tomorrow and Healthiest Communities.
We believe in having a broad range of talent and backgrounds at U.S. News. We strive to maintain a welcoming workplace where everyone is given an opportunity to succeed and contribute to their fullest. Learn more about our Diversity, Equity and Inclusioninitiative. U.S. News empowers everyone to thrive.
Your role in helping us shape the future:
As a special project writer you will report to the Managing Editor, Newsletters and Events. We are looking for a writer with strong reporting skills and profile experience, who is interested in finding the engaging details, turning points, and influences in specific leaders’ lives. For some leaders we may ask you to write a 400-600 word fun profile. For others, you may be asked to package a small collection of intriguing snippets and brief vignettes that could include, for example, citing how a particular book and/or mentor/teacher were particularly influential or how an apparent setback turned out to be a major leadership lesson. Each profile will likely include brief details on what the person has achieved as a leader and a snapshot of their leadership role(s).
The writer/interviewer must be curious, have interviewed high-profile individuals, write well, be highly organized, collaborative, proactive, detail-conscious and very accurate.
Are you up to the challenge?
- You will be responsible for setting up interviews/conducting basic research and writing profiles of a set of honorees related to the project.
- You will then discuss with the Managing Editor how to approach the profile of each honoree. (As noted above, 400-600 word profiles vs. collections of short items or vignettes.)
- You will complete each profile draft and turn it in to the managing editor, who will edit and ask for any changes as needed.
- You will review and edit your submissions to ensure high standards of quality and accuracy are maintained and retain all your source material/links to aid fact-checking.
You should definitely have:
- Five years to eight years of experience in reporting, interviewing and writing including profiles of achievers/leaders
- A bachelor’s degree
- Excellent interviewing skills with ability to identify insightful details or vignettes about each leader
- Strong proofreading and fact-checking skills
- Proven organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments (in this case 25 leader profiles)
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines consistently. U.S. News plans to publish all the completed profiles for each subject category at one time. (Three categories will have six profiles and one will have seven)
- Excellent collaboration skills to work out an efficient approach to each leader profile and category with the Managing Editor
It would be nice if you had:
- Knowledge of AP style
What it’s like to work with us:
Talent is our best asset!
- Entrepreneurial, mission-driven culture with core values of quality and integrity
- Collaborative Work Environment ~ Fun, diverse, inclusive and ambitious co-workers
Other Job Info:
- Contract term: May 30, 2025 – September 30, 2025
- The hourly rate for this position is $40 per hour. The actual rate offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, interview performance, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.