Job Siren: Staff Writer, Defector
Application deadline is Feb 19. Salary is $70k. Get to work!
I know nothing about this job other than it appears to be real. Get thee to a computer and start writing! (FYI, from the company website: “Defector Media is a 100% worker-owned and -operated media company and sports blog. The site launched in September 2020.”)
Job description
Defector Media is a 100-percent worker-owned and -operated media company. We are looking to hire additional Staff Writers in 2024.
Defector Staff Writers are responsible for writing about things they are interested in and publishing their work on the site. They possess a firm knowledge of the site’s editorial vision and voice, and are able to ensure that their work fits into that vision.
They do not have strict coverage beats, but they allow their interest in and passion for specific beats within sports, politics, science, media, music, movies, TV, weird internet stuff, or anything else that our readers might be interested in, to guide their focus. They write what they know, and what they care about. Perhaps that could be new wave French cinema or 2000s era pop-punk; in the past couple months, it's looked more like eating hot pot, taking piano lessons, and roadtripping for chicken wings.
They do not have a strict work quota, but they understand that they need to be contributing to the site regularly. They have publishing schedules that conform to their abilities and areas of expertise, and they should feel comfortable contributing to the site and company in a variety of ways, whether that be through short blogs, long features, newsletter bits, podcasting, or any of the dozens of editorial and operational tasks that are required to sustain an independent media company.
The Staff Writer will be primarily evaluated on their ability to use their expertise and imagination to create original content that can be used by the company. They are comfortable working in a collaborative environment, and are able to discuss and hone their ideas with other writers and editors.
This job is remote, but we are only set up to hire residents of the United States and Canada. Base salary is $70,000/year, plus additional quarterly profit share. (See our first Annual Report for a full explanation of our base salary / target salary / profit share compensation schema.)
Benefits include:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Unlimited paid time off, with a recommended 20 days per year
Six months’ paid parental or family leave
Stipends for phone, home internet, and tech hardware
Profit sharing for all employees
The application deadline is Monday, Feb. 19, 12:00 p.m. ET.
Job requirements
Experience and Skill Requirements:
At least 2 years experience writing for a digital or print publication.
Extensive knowledge of their coverage areas.
Superb writing skills, with a significant portfolio of relevant creative and opinion-based pieces.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Proficient with Word, Google Docs, and content management systems.
Able to exercise frequent independent judgement.
Enthusiastic about helping shape the non-editorial operations and strategic direction of the business.
Working Condition Expectations:
Work from home location of employee’s choice.
Occasional travel to an office environment for company meetings, to locations to cover stories, or to represent the company at industry events.
TO APPLY, PLEASE PREPARE:
Resume
Cover letter, which should clearly spell out your specific coverage interests, be they in sports, culture, politics, or anything else. Please also highlight any other digital media skills that might be useful to the company (e.g., managing social or email campaign platforms, hosting podcasts or streams, monetizing your own newsletter)
At least three clips
An example of a story from the past 4-5 months that Defector did not cover but should have, and a brief explanation of how you would have covered it for us (do NOT write the full post).
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
It's an election year; if you have any, you may want to include a political coverage piece among your clips. That being said, writers with non-sports and non-politics beats are very much encouraged to apply.
We may return to this applicant pool later in 2024 for additional hiring needs. If you are not looking for a new job right now but may want to be considered later this year, we'd encourage you to submit an application now.