Data Journalist

Who We Are

Murmuration is a nonprofit organization that amplifies the power of civic engagement by providing data, digital tools, and research-driven insights to community-focused organizations so that together we can create an America where everyone can lead healthy, free, and dignified lives.

Every day, people are trying to shape our future for the better. Fighting for water that’s safe to drink. Schools that serve students equitably. Gun laws that make sense. And rallying people who care like we do. And yet too often the skillful organizers working to mobilize communities lack access to technology that could supercharge their efforts. Knocking on every door instead of knowing which will open most easily. And going up against outside interests that have half the heart, but twice the tools.

In communities across America, Murmuration’s partners are leveraging our data, tools, and insights to help thousands of organizers orchestrate millions of individual people to do big things together. Demand big things together. To create the world they want. Together.

About the Position

We believe data is not just about measurement—it’s about meaning. In a time of noise, apathy, and misinformation, our goal is to surface what’s real, what’s possible, and what data people should pay attention to.

We’re looking for a Data Journalist who is equal parts scientist and storyteller: someone who loves pulling threads in a dataset until they reveal something unexpected, and then can’t wait to tell the world about it. You’ll play a critical role in surfacing fresh insights from complex datasets, working with our research and data teams to translate those insights into sharp, relevant, and compelling stories that help people better understand the civic, political, and social world around them.

This isn’t just about making charts. We want someone who’s technical enough to wrangle messy data, rigorous enough to do deep and technical analysis, and editorially curious enough to ask, Why is this surprising? Who needs to know this? What does this change?

You’ll help us find stories hiding in our proprietary civic data, public records, government databases, and our own polling. You’ll help shape the editorial agenda, not just execute on it. 

Job Level: IC3

What You’ll Do

• Identify, pitch, and pursue original data-driven stories that are timely, relevant, and rooted in rigorous analysis;
• Analyze large and very messy datasets (including polling, voter files, and civic data) to find patterns, outliers, or unexpected narratives;
• Collaborate with researchers, designers, and others to publish visual, interactive, or written features that help our audiences make sense of complex topics;
• Make clear calls about what’s meaningful, what’s noise, and what deserves a headline;
• Create charts, maps, or tables that are accurate and engaging, and work with the design team to elevate them when needed;
• Ensure findings are accessible and impactful for both general and expert audiences; and
• Stay on top of civic, political, demographic, and social trends to ensure our stories are not only accurate but also urgent and necessary.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience working with data in a journalistic, analytical, or research context, with a demonstrated ability to identify and tell meaningful, data-driven stories;
• Proficiency in SQL and either Python or R for data cleaning and analysis;
• Experience analyzing large, messy, or complex datasets including public data, polling, or voter files to surface insights and identify trends;
• Demonstrated ability to generate original story ideas grounded in data, and to assess what’s statistically valid, narratively compelling, and socially relevant;
• Experience producing charts, tables, and visualizations to accompany stories using tools like Datawrapper, Flourish, or custom code in Python/R;
• Familiarity with version control (e.g., Git), collaborative workflows, and transparent documentation of data methods and analysis;
• Strong editorial sensibility and an eye for what’s newsworthy and is comfortable pitching, framing, and refining stories with both technical and non-technical collaborators;
• Ability to write clearly and concisely about data for both technical and general audiences, with attention to context, uncertainty, and caveats;
• Track record of working on interdisciplinary teams, with experience navigating ambiguity, adapting to feedback, and contributing to both research and communications goals; and
• Curiosity, creativity, and a strong sense of civic mission—driven to use data as a tool for understanding and improving the world around us.

Nice to Haves

• Experience building interactive visualizations or using tools like D3, Observable, Datawrapper, or Flourish;
• Background in political science, economics, public policy, or sociology;
• Experience working cross-functionally with research or comms teams; and/or
• Familiarity with publishing workflows, content management systems, or newsroom environments.

Talented Data Journalists come from all walks of life and career. If you are passionate about civic engagement and technology, please apply, even if you do not check every box!

Benefits

Location and Compensation

The Data Journalist is a full-time, salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package (more detail below). It is based anywhere in the U.S. The starting salary range for this position is $85,000 - $120,000 and is commensurate with experience. This pay range reflects what the organization expects to offer for this position at the time of posting. In alignment with applicable laws, compensation will be determined based on the applicant's skills, qualifications, experience, and the specific requirements of the role. Please note that the organization may adjust this pay range as needed.

Our Culture of Care

We work hard to create a culture of care to ensure that our staff are best equipped to lead happy, healthy, and balanced lives. To that end, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered for you and qualifying family members;
• Retirement benefits with a 5% employer match;
• A flexible unlimited PTO plan;
• Generous paid parental leave;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits;
• A company laptop;
• A flexible remote work environment;
• A home office setup stipend for all new employees;
• Monthly reimbursement for remote work expenses;
• A yearly professional development fund;
• Mental health and wellness benefits through Calm and Better Help; 
• Yearly in-person staff retreats; and
• A welcoming culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

At Murmuration, we believe a vibrant, representative democracy depends on the inclusion of diverse voices, lived experiences, and perspectives. The best ideas don’t come from a single person or ideology — they emerge at the intersection of different backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints. We are proud of our commitment to building an organization and culture shaped by respect, empathy, and collaboration, where our team’s diversity fuels innovation, civic engagement, and meaningful change. We welcome new colleagues who will help us nurture this collective effort. Join us.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Murmuration is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.

Note: Murmuration is two organizations working together to pursue our mission of amplifying the power of civic engagement: Murmuration Research Institute, a 501(c)(3) that conducts research to identify, design, and create the data, tools, and insights that build healthier and more equitable communities; and Murmuration, Inc., a 501(c)(4) that supports organizations working across the country on the nation’s most challenging issues with access to data, tools, and research that build healthier and more equitable communities.

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