Job Description

National Journal seeks an energetic, detail-oriented copy editor to join our newsroom. Candidates must have excellent editing and fact-checking skills, as well as an understanding of Congress and the political landscape.

National Journal is a premier editorial, research and insights company committed to helping organizations effectively navigate Washington. Best known as one of Washington’s most trusted media brands for more than 50 years, our expertise is unmatched with teams of specialists dedicated to government affairs, communications, and political research, in addition to exceptional journalism. Our mission is to equip the thousands of government and business leaders in the nation’s capital with the intelligence, insights, and connections they need to save time, increase efficiency, and deliver success.

Duties:

The copy editor will be part of the production team, working with the copy chief to develop style and usage standards for National Journal Daily ; Hotline ; the Presentation Center (our database of slide decks and infographics); and Almanac+ (our biographical database of top government officials); and ensure that all published copy is clean and error-free. Duties will include headline writing, caption writing, and copyfit. They work in both our content-management software and print-layout software. Shifts typically run from late morning through early evening.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate Include:

• A sharp focus and eye for grammatical and factual detail

• Staying abreast of AP style and other usage conventions, and how they apply to NJ’s work

• Ability to work collaboratively with the editorial team, as well as the page designer

• Deadline focus and reliability

• Demonstrated ability to creatively integrate AI tools into editorial workflows to improve efficiency and quality—while applying sound editorial judgment and ensuring AI supports rather than substitutes professional copy editing standards

• A positive, collaborative approach and an interest in contributing to a team

• A strong work ethic, and a desire to excel

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation: The salary for this role is $50,000 - $55,000

Location: This job is based in Washington, DC. National Journal operates on a hybrid schedule, with employees required to be in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. During the month of August 2025, National Journal teams will be fully remote.

About Us

Across National Journal Group, generally, the firm looks for two “pillar gifts” in you, and everyone else. In all of us, these are more aspirational than actual, but they are central in our intentions –

• Force of Ideas: At the center of National Journal Group work are the ideas within our writing. We believe that ideas – to the good and not – have consequences. Our highest work is bringing rigor, insight, intellectual honesty, to that ultimate purpose of separating the bad from the good, and giving voice to the latter.

• Spirit of Generosity: National Journal Group seeks in its ranks a spirit of generosity – a natural disposition in each colleague toward service and selfless conduct. National Journal Group writing should be cut from the same cloth –critical on the merits but informed by charity and forbearance in measuring motive and personal character.

National Journal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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