The Forward seeks a General Assignment Reporter to file daily stories that reflect and explain Jewish life in America.
The ideal candidate will bring a sense of urgency and curiosity to the role, generating a steady stream of ideas to drive the day’s Jewish conversations. They will pair excellent news judgment and an ability to yield insights from audience data in order to develop a steady stream of quick, smart takes on the news that make sense for the Forward.
The reporter will cover breaking news, find fresh Jewish angles on trending topics, and report and write explainers that answer readers’ pressing questions as they arise. Eager to dig up context and background on high-stakes people, places and perspectives, they’re versatile and enterprising, equally adept at engaging audiences with quick Q and As or quirky features.
They can turn a 150-word breaking news report in minutes, and become expert enough to write a 750-word guide in a few hours. They deploy discerning judgment on a firehose of information to prioritize what to pursue. They know how to vet online sources, photos and videos in an era of mis- and disinformation.
Understanding of the American Jewish landscape is a plus, curiosity about it a must. Also essential: an understanding of audiences and how to write for them, with a strong sense of what will drive interest on Reddit, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and in search.
Founded in 1897 as a Yiddish, Socialist broadsheet, the Forward taught generations of Eastern European immigrants how to be American. Publishing mainly in English since 1990 and fully digital since 2019, our news, culture and full-spectrum opinion coverage now reach 1.5 million people each month across platforms. We are a member-supported nonprofit, having removed our paywall in late 2023, and an Equal Opportunity employer that welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.
The GA Reporter will be a member of the News Guild, with a salary range of $60,000 to $75,000 depending on experience, and generous health benefits and PTO.
Responsibilities include:
- Mining tools like NewsWhip, Brandwatch, SEMrush, and Google Trends for leads/ideas
- Collaborating with editors to prioritize and deliver real-time stories that resonate
- Crafting compelling, conversational headlines optimized across platforms
- Maximizing SEO and other techniques to drive growth and engagement
- Writing quickly, accurately, and well, with a consistent eye to user needs
To apply, send cover letter, resume and five clips to [email protected], subject line: GA Reporter.