Data Editor, IRW at American University – McKinley Building

Data Editor, IRW at American University – McKinley Building, United States

American University is a student‑centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly‑ranked schools and colleges, internationally‑renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.

Department:
School of Communication

Time Type:
Full time

Job Type: Regular

FLSA Status:
Exempt

Work Modality:
Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3‑4 Days/Week)

Union:
Excluded

Job Description

Summary

The Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW) is an editorially independent newsroom based at AU’s School of Communication (AU SOC). The Data Editor at IRW is responsible for managing and editing data interns and fellows’ work, and working with reporting and data partners in other organizations. They will review data and analyses for weaknesses that could undermine the stories. The Data Editor trains other journalists to advance their skills in data journalism and programming, through special events, workshops, and panel discussions.

The position supports organizational ambitions to grow data‑driven projects. They represent IRW to external and internal audiences through conference attendance and presentations. A successful Data Editor prioritizes projects but also works across several ongoing efforts to help reporters translate numbers‑heavy investigations into powerful and accurate stories. They should be able to document and write a complete, publishable methodology for stories that is easily understandable to a general audience.

Essential Functions

• Data Analysis and Reporting: Develops and executes plans for acquiring, analyzing, cleaning and presenting data used by the Investigative Reporting Workshop, and helps pitch and develop story ideas for future projects. Basic reporting skills, including interviewing, are required.
• Editing: Checking and re‑checking thousands of documents, reviewing the work of student journalists and graduate fellows.
• Training & Presentations: Develops ideas for on‑site workshops and events and participates in panels at national conferences, including IRE, NICAR, and the international Investigative Reporters and Editors and its spinoff, the National Institute for Computer Assisted Reporting. This position also frequently speaks to American University’s graduate boot‑camp students and to the Dow Jones training workshops for business reporters.
• Other duties as assigned to support the strategic priorities of the Investigative Reporting Workshop.

Supervisory Responsibility

• One to three part‑time student interns and fellows.
• Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
• Prioritizing and Organizing.
• Evaluating and Implementing Ideas.
• Developing Plans.
• Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions.
• Driving Continuous Improvement.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full‑time.
• 35 hrs./week.
• In person and eligible for the Hybrid 1 schedule.
• Based at the Investigative Reporting Workshop at SOC in Washington, D.C.
• This position is 100% contingent upon the availability of external grant and gift funding (over one year of funding currently available in IRW accounts).

Salary Range

Required Education and Experience

• 3‑5 years of relevant experience.
• Our ideal applicants have three to five years of experience in data journalism, including statistical analysis and reporting stories from data, and some experience in programming. We want a journalist who cares about finding stories among those communities that are often underrepresented in the media. And we want a journalist who is passionate about accurate storytelling across platforms.
• We seek candidates who want to invest in the demands of work that may take months or more than a year, and who understand that data collection, analysis, and editing may be only the beginning of the reporting process. We want a journalist who will share their deep understanding of public records and open‑source tools. The data editor also should take initiative, suggesting their own stories and supporting the work of other journalists — those on contract with IRW and among our interns and fellows — in our newsroom and with our publishing partners.

Preferred Education and Experience

• M…