Senior Staff Associate I

The Tow Center for Digital Journalism, based at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, provides journalists with the skills and knowledge to lead the future of digital journalism and serves as a research and development center for the profession as a whole. The Center commissions research in emerging areas, develops teaching methods and courses, and offers fellowships to academics, journalists and technologists.

The Tow Center is seeking a Senior Staff Associate I to serve as investigative journalist to lead our investigations into 'dark money' in local news. These investigations will continue our high profile, multi-year project examining 'pink slime' networks, which mimic the appearance of local news, but often obscure their funding sources and can be paid for by political parties, candidates, or lobbying campaigns. This researcher and reporter will closely monitor such networks and will work with Tow Center researchers to produce news articles, white papers, scholarly research, tools and events/workshops. This is a unique opportunity for the right person to actively advance the profession's understanding of the local news ecosystem and make a significant contribution to the field.

This position is a full-time, one-year appointment and may be renewable depending on performance and funding.

Ideal candidates will have previous experience analyzing media ecosystems, experience with investigative stories involving tracing funding sources, strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, excellent project management and editorial skills, and a thorough understanding of the research field with their own published works. A bachelor's degree is required; advanced degree preferred. Computational skills are a plus.

The successful candidate will be comfortable with the pressure of delivering work on tight deadlines and evolving priorities in a professional manner. They must have excellent judgment with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. The role requires leading an original research and reporting agenda, collaborating and coordinating the output of the project with existing members of the team, as well as working with both the Director and Deputy Director of the Tow Center to shape and deliver the program. The Senior Staff Associate will report to the Director and work closely with the Deputy Director and Program Director across all aspects of the program, including:

* Developing and refining of research topics implementing timely and high quality research

* Conducting interviews and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data

* Conversing with representatives from companies, research networks, etc. about the project and its findings

* Producing written reports, tools, materials for events, high level meetings, and other activities

* Monitoring and amplifying the impact of the research program

* Identifying opportunities and gaps to raise the profile of the project and the Center as a whole

* Ensuring the project is meeting deliverables in a timely manner and additional duties as needed to support the research process

Bachelor's degree required.

Demonstrated experience using quantitative and qualitative research methods. An active member in the digital journalism community, or the journalism research community.

Demonstrated ability to produce research or journalism that is timely, rigorous, authoritative, contains original ideas and analysis, and relevant to the industry.

Demonstrated ability to write and edit well for the Tow Centers' community: working journalists, newsroom managers and leaders, academic researchers, journalism students and educators.

Ideal candidates will have previous experience analyzing media ecosystems, experience with investigative stories involving tracing funding sources, strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, excellent project management and editorial skills, and a thorough understanding of the research field with their own published works. A bachelor's degree is required; advanced degree preferred. Computational skills are a plus.

The successful candidate will be comfortable with the pressure of delivering work on tight deadlines and evolving priorities in a professional manner. They must have excellent judgment with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. The role requires leading an original research and reporting agenda, collaborating and coordinating the output of the project with existing members of the team, as well as working with both the Director and Deputy Director of the Tow Center to shape and deliver the program.

Advanced degree in journalism, communications, media, technology, or a closely related field preferred.

Experience in computational and data journalism are a plus, but not required. Candidates with experience working in research & development in journalism, communications or a related field are also considered.

Minimum Qualifications:
Demonstrated experience with journalism research. An active member in the digital journalism community, or the journalism research community.
Demonstrated ability to produce content that is timely, rigorous, authoritative, contains original ideas and analysis, and relevant to the journalism industry.
Demonstrated ability to write and edit well for the Tow Centers' community: working journalists, newsroom managers and leaders, academic researchers, journalism students and educators.

Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree in journalism, communications, media, technology, or a closely related field preferred.
Candidates with experience working in research & development in journalism, communications or a related field are also considered.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.