Jobs

Now Hiring: Palestine Staff Writer

Mondoweiss is growing, and we’re seeking a strong staff writer to join our team. This is a great opportunity for knowledgeable professionals looking to use their skills and passion to contribute to a dynamic news publication covering the movements, activists, and policymakers affecting the struggle for freedom in Palestine.

About Mondoweiss

Mondoweiss is an independent website informing readers about developments in Israel/Palestine and related U.S. foreign policy. We provide news and analysis regarding the struggle for Palestinian human rights unavailable through the mainstream media.

We publish original reporting, analysis, and personal stories. As the site has grown, we have developed a large group of regular contributors committed to high journalistic standards of documentable evidence and reliable sourcing. For more information, see mondoweiss.net/about-mondoweiss.

About the Position

Mondoweiss is seeking a Staff Writer to cover stories in Palestine that will engage the Mondoweiss audience. The Staff Writer will report news stories about Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jerusalem, and ‘48 Palestine. We are looking for someone familiar and engaged with the news world and ready to work in the fast-paced environment of a digital news organization. This position will be a member of our Editorial Team and part of our growing staff in Palestine. The Palestine Staff Writer reports directly to the Palestine News Director and will collaborate closely with the Managing Editor, the Executive Editor, and other Editorial staff.

Responsibilities

  • Write and report news stories from Palestine, including desk stories, news reports, and the Mondoweiss daily dispatches covering the events of the war on Gaza. The staff writer will also be encouraged to occasionally contribute other forms of written content, such as analysis, opinion, and feature stories, though it is not a requirement.
  • The Palestine Staff Writer is expected to write the daily ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ dispatches, which have been ongoing since October 7. The writer will be responsible for the weekday dispatch (Monday – Friday).
  • In addition to the daily dispatches, the writer is expected to contribute 2-4 news or desk stories a week to the Mondoweiss website, though that number is subject to change depending on the pace of the moment’s news cycle.
  • Pitch stories to and receive assignments from the Palestine News Director, and submit stories promptly.
  • Identify and verify important stories and events in Arabic and English media and on social media, and turn them into desk reports for the Mondoweiss website.
  • Source original quotes and verify information from contacts and sources in Palestine to authenticate and supplement desk reports.
  • Work with the Palestine Team to identify and report on stories and topics relevant to the current news cycle and political moment.
  • Work with the broader editorial team to generate ideas for stories from Palestine.
  • Coordinate with reporters/stringers on the ground for drafting quickly developing news stories.

Job-Specific Requirements

  • Solid news judgment, a deep understanding of current events, contemporary Palestinian politics and society, and familiarity with Mondoweiss are each a must.
  • Ability to identify newsworthy stories and events as they are happening and write news reports with a quick turnover.
  • Ability to source verifiable information, photos, and videos and weed out misinformation on social media.
  • Must have established contacts in Palestine and familiarity with Palestinian communities in different geographic regions to quickly verify and confirm information and source original quotes for stories.
  • Excellent English writing skills and a demonstrable track record of writing clear and concise prose. Experience in journalistic writing styles is a plus.
  • Speaking and reading Arabic. Native proficiency is not required, but the ability to communicate with sources and contacts for interviews and to read the Arabic-language media is a must.
  • Demonstrable experience turning concepts into published stories and a track record of consistency and follow-through.

Other Desirable Skills

  • Familiarity with WordPress and/or other web content management systems
  • Familiarity with preparing and developing other media, such as audio, video, or information graphics.
  • Familiarity with video and social media. Ability to turn news reports into a short social media video about a current event or news topic.
  • Knowledge of Hebrew is a plus.

Work Conditions

The Palestine Staff Writer will work in a team of supportive and creative people with expertise and experience based throughout the U.S. and Palestine. The position will be full-time (35 hours/week), exempt, reporting directly to the Palestine News Director, and will be remote (you will work from your own site).

Mondoweiss team members have considerable autonomy and flexibility on when and how they do their work; by the same token, there are times when each of us must be available outside of typical business hours. For this role, there will be some evening and weekend obligations.

We will consider candidates based anywhere, but there is an expectation that the candidate will be available to work during a period that overlaps with business hours in Palestine and the U.S. Eastern Time Zone. The pay range for this position is $37,000 – $40,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. Mondoweiss offers our employees generous paid time off and personal health benefits.

To Apply

To apply, please email jobs [at] mondoweiss.net. Use “Staff Writer [YOUR NAME]” as the subject line for your email. The deadline is February 28, 2024, and on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Please include:

  • Your resume.
  • A cover letter specifying your experience.
  • Links or samples to one or more news stories you have written.

Those selected for an interview will be asked to provide contact information for three references who can speak to your experience.

Mondoweiss seeks to be a diverse organization and especially welcomes applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI individuals. In addition, we place a particular emphasis on increasing the role of Palestinian-identified people on our team. If you are a member of any of these groups, we encourage you to self-identify in your cover letter. If you need assistance or an accommodation in applying due to a disability, please also alert us in your letter.