Fact-Checker, PolitiFact | Focus on LGBTQ+ issues
PolitiFact, the Pulitzer Prize-winning politics fact-checking organization, is seeking a reporter to fact-check viral online and political claims, with a focus on LGBTQ+ issues.
In the past two years, we have consistently seen claims about gender identity and sexuality move from social media into political speech. We’ll ask you to build on PolitiFact’s track record of evidence-based reporting to birddog lawmakers, the 2024 presidential contenders, pundits and activists for claims that are interesting, inaccurate and possibly harmful.
You’ll be asked to identify and report on narratives in their infancy, like the one that falsely said Boston Children’s Hospital was offering hysterectomies for young girls, or the urban myth that schools across the country were putting out litter boxes for students who identified as furries. You’ll hold lawmakers and activists accountable for their rhetoric in policy debates. When a controversial bill is shorthanded as “don’t say gay,” we point out why that’s misleading and where there are ambiguities. When outside spending groups launch misleading ads about leaders “promoting” gender-affirming surgeries, we call that out, too.
If you want to do this work and then some, you should apply for this new beat. You will join other specialists on our small but ambitious fact-checking team who specialize in topics of immigration, health care and misinformation. Your stories will be shared on PolitiFact.com and with media partners across the country, including our partners at the Tampa Bay Times, Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kaiser Health News Gray Television and more.
Candidates must embrace PolitiFact’s core values of accuracy, independence, transparency and fairness. (Read PolitiFact’s “The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter” for more details.) PolitiFact is part of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, which aims to create best practices to guide quality journalism around the world. That goal is best served by a multi-generational staff who embody a range of life experiences and viewpoints. We are committed to diversity and an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds.
PolitiFact has offices in both St. Petersburg, Florida, and Washington, D.C. We prefer candidates in those locations, but remote work is a possibility. The salary range is between $47,000 and $65,000, based on criteria that include work experience and job location. This is a one-year position with the potential for renewal based on funding. This full-time position includes a standard benefits package, access to Poynter training, and a two-week paid winter break.
Please send a resume, three clips and a letter explaining why you’d be a good fit to managing editor Katie Sanders at hiring2@poynter.org. We will begin considering candidates as soon as applications are received.
EOE
No phone calls, please.