Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Pinwheel Agency is seeking a senior data journalist to uncover stories in complex datasets and turn them into accessible, authoritative research content. The role develops original articles, reports, rankings, and trend analyses, working with data, editorial, design, agency, and client teams to validate findings and shape the research agenda.
Responsibilities
- Examine proprietary and publicly available datasets to identify emerging trends, surprising findings, meaningful correlations, and changes over time
- Develop original research questions and editorial hypotheses based on consumer behavior, economic conditions, and cultural trends
- Identify opportunities to analyze data by geography, generation, demographic group, or historical period
- Distinguish genuinely newsworthy findings from statistical noise, and investigate the factors that may explain them
- Research, write, and develop authoritative articles, trend reports, rankings, and in-depth research features
- Translate complex statistical findings into clear, engaging narratives for general consumer audiences
- Create recurring editorial franchises such as annual "State of" reports, metro and state rankings, generational comparisons, and year-over-year trend studies
- Incorporate credible external research, expert perspectives, and broader economic context to enrich proprietary findings
- Develop clear headlines, key findings, executive summaries, and compelling narratives that make research accessible and shareable
- Partner with data analysts, researchers, and subject matter experts to define research questions, request data cuts, and validate findings
- Use spreadsheets and data analysis tools to explore datasets independently, test hypotheses, and uncover additional insights
- Work with designers to identify opportunities for charts, maps, infographics, and other data visualizations
- Document research methodologies, sources, assumptions, and limitations to ensure accuracy and reproducibility
- Collaborate with the agency and client teams to maximize the reach and relevance of the research
- Propose original research projects informed by current events, consumer interests, search behavior, and emerging trends
- Build a forward-looking editorial calendar balancing timely findings with recurring annual research
- Identify opportunities for research to earn media coverage, attract citations, and establish the organization as a trusted authority
- Maintain high standards for independence, credibility, transparency, and factual accuracy
Skills
- Must include your resume and a link (or links) to articles you've written in order to be considered
- Regular content writers will not be considered for this job
- Must be a legit data journalist
- 7+ years of professional experience in journalism, data journalism, research-driven editorial content, or a closely related field
- A strong portfolio of published articles or reports based on original data analysis
- Demonstrated ability to develop compelling editorial narratives from complex quantitative information
- Excellent reporting, research, interviewing, writing, and fact-checking skills
- Strong proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, including data manipulation, comparative analysis, and basic statistical calculations
- Solid understanding of statistical concepts, including sampling, distributions, averages, correlations, and the distinction between correlation and causation
- Experience working with researchers, economists, analysts, or other technical subject matter experts
- Ability to contextualize findings using reputable third-party research and public data sources
- Strong editorial judgment and the ability to communicate sophisticated topics to non-specialist audiences
- Background in consumer finance, economics, business, banking, credit, housing, or consumer behavior
- Experience at an established news organization, consumer publication, research publisher, or financial information company
- Experience working with proprietary datasets, public-use microdata, government statistics, and consumer surveys
- Familiarity with SQL, Python, R, Tableau, or other analytical and visualization tools
- Experience producing annual research reports, data rankings, geographic comparisons, or recurring editorial franchises
- Understanding of SEO and how original research earns organic visibility, citations, and media coverage
- Experience collaborating with designers on charts and visual storytelling
Benefits
- Remote / Flexible work arrangement
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