Journalists, Technology
I’m building a bench of freelance writers for our service journalism partnership with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the University of Missouri.
We’re looking for journalists who like getting their hands dirty with technology—and asking whether it actually does what it promises.
The focus: practical, rigorously reported stories that help newsrooms and media professionals evaluate and use digital tools, particularly AI. Think hands-on reviews, step-by-step guides, and case studies featuring real newsrooms doing real work.
If you’ve ever tested a product and discovered that the “easy setup” required three support tickets and an afternoon you’ll never get back, I want to hear from you.
You should be comfortable:
• Developing testing criteria and backing up your verdicts.
• Interviewing the people using these tools, including asking what didn’t work.
• Explaining workflows clearly, with screenshots or short videos where helpful.
• Looking beyond the demo to assess usability, affordability, and whether a tool fits a newsroom’s needs.
A review-site background is a plus. Editorial independence is essential. We want honest assessments, including when the verdict is “save your money.”
Here’s another important part: we run an AI-forward newsroom, and our writers are inside the process, not upstream of it. One round of reporting might support a review, a case study, and a getting-started guide. You’ll work with us and our AI production system as that material develops, remain involved throughout, and approve anything carrying your byline.
You don’t have to be an AI evangelist. Curiosity, sound judgment, and a willingness to work with the tools will serve you well.
The details:
• Fully remote, freelance, per-piece assignments.
• Pieces generally range from 500 to 1,500+ words.
• Competitive rates based on format and scope.
• Assignment volume varies by month.
Interested? Send me a LinkedIn message with a brief introduction, two or three relevant clips, your availability, and the tools or newsroom workflows you know best.
Know a writer who would be a good fit? Please share this with them.