Description: Reasons to be Cheerful is expanding its team to include two Contributing Editors each of whom will be responsible for reporting and writing two mid-length articles per month. A flexible opportunity perfectly suited to freelancers looking for a stable and steady assignment alongside their other work, the Contributing Editors will be an essential part of the Reasons to be Cheerful team, attending weekly editorial meetings and contributing to the overall editorial direction of the publication, while working primarily on their own schedule with the option to work remotely.
The ideal applicant will display enthusiasm for and experience with solutions-oriented journalism, demonstrated reporting and writing skills and the ability to work independently. They should show an understanding of the Reasons to be Cheerful voice and mandate, and a hunger to tell rigorous, underreported and evidence-driven stories of effective responses to the challenges facing the world today.
Responsibilities:
Pitch, report and write two mid-length articles (600-1,200 words, depending on what each story demands) per month for Reasons to be Cheerful
Attend biweekly editorial meetings and weekly editorial check-ins as needed
Additional optional writing and editing opportunities may arise for Contributing Editors. As such, experience in editing, assigning and project management will be considered an asset.
Ideal candidates will:
Display excellent writing credentials, ideally with experience working in a freelance or other self-guided capacity.
Have experience reporting from a solutions-oriented perspective and display a deep understanding of the elements and nuances of solutions-oriented reporting
Be able to find, pitch and report stories from around the world. While some field reporting will be welcome, Reasons to be Cheerful caters to a global audience and requires stories that reflect the diverse nature of our readership. Contributing editors must be able to write vivid and in-depth stories while reporting from afar
Have a treasure trove of great ideas and a keen ability to root out surprising, unique and under-the-radar stories about real responses (projects, policies, programs, etc.) that are making a genuine dent in the problems we face. Stories from underrepresented places and communities are especially welcome and well-received by our audience
Deliver thoroughly reported, fact-checked, sourced and clean copy on deadline
Have experience working in impact-driven, non-profit media
Contribute meaningfully to team editorial meetings, helping shape Reasons to be Cheerful’s overall editorial direction
Be excited to join a small, tight-knit team that is collaborative, kind, fun, and passionate about working together on a mission-driven project about the future of our world
Contributing Editors will start with a six month contract with the option to extend and will be compensated USD$1,500 per month. Additional writing and editing opportunities will be negotiated separately. The Contributing Editor positions will begin between April and June of 2021.
Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, a minimum of three work samples, and three examples of the kinds of stories they might pitch in their role to info@reasonstobecheerful.world with the subject line “Application: RTBC Contributing Editor.”
Society of Professional Journalists
