At Inkstick, we believe national security isn’t just something that happens overseas or inside the Pentagon. It shapes our schools, our budgets, our jobs, our technologies, our civil liberties, and our democracy.
Our journalism investigates those connections. Now we’re looking for someone to help us tell those stories in entirely new ways.
We’re launching Normal Security Things, a new social-first editorial initiative designed to make rigorous reporting on war, militarism, and foreign policy understandable, visual, and impossible to scroll past.
We’re looking for an ambitious, creative journalist to help build it from the ground up.
About Inkstick
Inkstick is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering war, power, and peace. Through investigative reporting, essays, and our award-winning podcast Things That Go Boom, we connect national security to everyday life.
We don’t believe foreign policy belongs to experts alone. We believe everyone deserves to understand how decisions about war and militarism shape their lives.
About the Role
This is not a traditional social media position.
We’re looking for an editorial producer who understands how people consume information online and wants to experiment with new ways of translating rigorous journalism into compelling short-form storytelling.
You’ll work with Inkstick’s team to turn original reporting into videos that people actually want to watch — and share.
One week you might explain how emergency military spending affects local communities. The next you might build a satirical “Honest Security Ad” for a weapons contractor or create a rapid-response explainer unpacking breaking news from Iran.
You’ll have significant editorial ownership from day one.
This role is ideal for someone who wants to build something enduring. While the position is initially funded for six months, our goal is to demonstrate the impact of Normal Security Things and secure long-term support to make it a permanent part of Inkstick’s journalism.
What You’ll Do
- Produce original short-form vertical video based on Inkstick reporting and breaking news.
- Write scripts, edit video, create captions, and publish content across social platforms.
- Develop recurring Normal Security Things formats, including:
- Permanent Emergency Alerts
- Honest Security Ads
- Who Paid For This?
- Other original concepts you’ll help invent.
- Translate complex investigations into engaging, accurate, social-first journalism.
- Identify opportunities to respond quickly to developments related to war, militarism, defense spending, and US foreign policy.
- Track audience engagement and help refine editorial formats over time.
- Help shape the editorial voice, visual language, and future direction of Normal Security Things.
Who You Are
You’re a journalist first.
You know that simplifying doesn’t mean dumbing down. You understand that a great hook isn’t clickbait — it’s an invitation to learn.
You probably spend too much time thinking about why one video gets 2,000 views while another gets two million.
You enjoy experimenting. You iterate quickly. You care deeply about accuracy.
Most importantly, you’re excited by the challenge of helping people understand some of the most important — and most misunderstood — issues shaping public life.
Qualifications
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has experience producing high-quality short-form video journalism or educational content.
- Can independently take an idea from concept to published video.
- Has strong editorial judgment and excellent news instincts.
- Is comfortable scripting, editing, and publishing vertical video.
- Understands what works on Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and emerging platforms.
- Enjoys experimenting and learning from audience behavior.
- Shares Inkstick’s commitment to rigorous, independent journalism.
Bonus points if you have experience covering politics, national security, economics, investigative reporting, or documentary storytelling.
Compensation
This is a remote, grant-funded, six-month contract position.
The role is expected to average 15–20 hours per week and pays $5,000 per month ($30,000 total over six months).
While this position is funded through an initial grant, our goal is to build Normal Security Things into a long-term editorial initiative. We hope the success of this project will create opportunities to continue and expand the role.
How to Apply
Please send the following to lheeley@inkstickmedia.com:
- A resume or LinkedIn profile.
- Three examples of short-form video you’ve created or played a significant role in producing.
- A brief note (no more than 300 words) telling us why this role excites you and why you’re interested in helping build Normal Security Things.
We’ll invite a small number of finalists to complete a paid editorial exercise based on an Inkstick story before making a final selection.
Inkstick is committed to building a diverse newsroom. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, identities, and communities. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every qualification listed above, we’d still love to hear from you.