The Atlantic is hiring a curious, ambitious, and science-minded journalist to cover Americans' changing health habits. This staff writer will focus on the country's virtues and vices: our desires to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep, and conversely to smoke, drink, and indulge in what we're not supposed to. Candidates should be obsessed with emerging health trends-and skeptical, when appropriate, of experts and self-anointed experts seeking to gain influence. This writer will go beyond service-style analysis or debunking to examine the changing definition of a healthy life in the United States.
The ideal candidate will be presciently attuned to new developments in health and wellness, and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the cultural, political, and historical forces shaping them. This writer must be adept at parsing scientific research, reporting on shifting policies, and accessing influential figures. Conceptual depth and stylistic flair are essential. The role will at times include night, early-morning, and weekend work.
Other qualifications of the ideal candidate include:- Substantial experience reporting and writing for a broad audience on topics related to health, wellness, and/or science
- A track record of developing sources, identifying emergent trends, and leading the national conversation on health topics
- Fluency in scientific principles and a superior ability to assess the quality of scientific research
- Exceptional writing skills and magazine sensibilities
- An abundance of story ideas, an eagerness to pitch, and a hunger to weigh in on major topics and news events
- The ability to balance reporting on pressing news with landmark longer-term projects
Salary minimum: $120,000; Salary maximum: $180,000This position is based in New York City, Washington, D.C., or Remote.This is a Guild position.
