The Pacific Standard research editor sits on the investigations desk and works to ensure the accuracy of our most ambitious journalism while also helping to maintain and enforce reporting standards across the newsroom for quicker-moving enterprise. He/she/they will also oversee the magazine’s editorial fellowship program, which recruits and trains journalists in research and fact-checking methods.
If you have a hunger for the truth, are a dogged researcher and critical thinker, are compelled by issues of social and environmental justice, and enjoy engaging collaboratively with a team of top-notch writers and editors, we’d like to hear from you. The ideal candidate will have experience fact-checking a diverse array of narrative styles and subject matter, including business, foreign affairs, education, the judicial system, and the environment. We are looking for a skilled reporter and editor who can offer thoughtful and creative solutions to errors and problems with copy. Candidates must be able to work well under pressure and exercise diplomacy in all dealings with editors, writers, and sources.
This is a great opportunity for a seasoned fact-checker to join an ambitious team and participate in helping to make great stories even better. The job will also involve assisting the deputy editor in evaluating pitches, shaping reporting efforts at assignment, and occasionally contributing to story editing efforts.
Primary Responsibilities
- Ensure that all investigative and features content receives the highest level of fact-checking.
- Collaborate with writers, editors, and outside experts to resolve any problems, discrepancies, and/or errors.
- Research, report, and/or locate additional resources to validate facts as necessary.
- Identify content that requires legal review, and work with writers, editors, and counsel to generate solutions.
- Provide research support to assigning editors and staff writers on request.
- Maintain fact-checking files for all stories published.
- Work with editorial team leaders to shepherd select stories through copy-editing and proofreading.
- Recruit, train, mentor, and oversee the magazine’s editorial fellows and ensure that their experience is engaging and professionally meaningful.
- Prepare job-posting materials for the editorial fellowships, interview candidates, generate tasks, coordinate workflow, and evaluate fellows on performance.
- Assist the deputy editor with evaluating pitches, designing reporting plans, and, occasionally, line editing.
To Apply
This full-time position with benefits is based in our primary office in Santa Barbara, California. To apply, send a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience to Ryan Jacobs at rjacobs@psmag.com. All application materials should be submitted electronically. We regret that we cannot respond to all applicants. Absolutely no phone calls, please.
