Freelance Viral & Trending News Writer (East Coast, U.S.) – $25/hour

Guessing Headlights is looking for experienced freelance writers based on the U.S. East Coast to help cover fast-moving viral, trending, and breaking news.

We’re looking for journalists who have a strong instinct for stories people are already talking about—or will be talking about soon. If you can move quickly without sacrificing accuracy, enjoy digging through public records, police reports, and social media, and know how to turn emerging stories into engaging news articles, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Cover
Viral and trending news
Automotive news
Police, crime, and public safety stories
Breaking news
Unusual or bizarre incidents with strong audience appeal

What We’re Looking For
Strong news judgment and excellent research skills
Ability to verify facts using primary sources
Experience covering breaking or trending news
Comfortable working with police reports, court records, public records, and social media as reporting tools
Able to work independently in a fast-paced newsroom

Requirements
Must be located on the U.S. East Coast
Previous journalism or digital publishing experience preferred
Ideal candidates enjoy working early mornings and are generally available between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. ET, when many of our stories break.
Familiarity with AP style or willingness to follow our editorial guidelines

Pay & Schedule
$25 per hour
Flexible freelance position
Writers set their own availability, but we are primarily seeking contributors who can help cover the early-morning news cycle.

Ongoing work available for reliable writers who consistently produce high-quality journalism.

How to Apply

Please send:
A brief introduction about yourself
Your resume (if available)
Three writing samples
Links to any news stories you’ve written
Your general availability

Email: Jobs@guessingheadlights.com