Physical Sciences Reporter, C&EN

Overview of C&EN:

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) produces authoritative, award-winning journalism from around the world of chemistry, including research, education, industry, funding, and regulatory policy. It is published by but editorially independent of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society dedicated to a single discipline. C&EN is widely considered one of the major benefits of ACS membership. Its weekly magazine reaches more than 170,000 members of ACS, and its website receives more than 13 million page views per year.

We are seeking a reporter and writer who will keep C&EN readers informed about research in physical chemistry, materials chemistry, and energy-related topics.

What you’ll do:

1. Write breaking news stories for C&EN’s website and longer-form features for its  weekly print magazine, with opportunities to work on podcast and video.
2. Identify potential news and features with coverage spanning trends in physical chemistry, materials, and surface chemistry & catalysis; including  advances in materials science, energy harvesting, production, & storage.
3. Conduct interviews and gather information that leads to accurate and balanced stories for all platforms, including website, newsletters, mobile app, podcasts, and print magazine.
4. Construct sophisticated and complex stories that conform to C&EN style and meet deadlines. Work with C&EN’s art team to create graphics and infographics that engage and inform audiences.
5. Work with colleagues to find the widest possible audience for your journalism. Share your work and interact with our audience on social media.
6. Develop contacts and story ideas by attending or covering key scientific meetings and events and monitoring relevant journals.

What you’ll bring:

1. 5 years of experience working as a science journalist.
2.  A background in science is required; knowledge of the physical sciences is a plus.
3. Strong news judgment, good writing and editing skills, and good oral communication skills.
4. The ability to gather and analyze information from a variety of sources.
5. Track record of writing engaging stories on complex topics for a scientifically sophisticated audience.
6. Proven skill with social media, including developing a social media profile of your own to engage audiences and report stories.

Travel expectations: Up to 10%

About working at C&EN:

ACS believes in the strength of diversity in all its forms, because inclusion of and respect for diverse people, experiences, and ideas lead to superior solutions to world challenges and advance chemistry as a global, multidisciplinary science. In turn, C&EN believes that to meet its mission to be the world’s go-to source of news about chemistry, our reporting and our newsroom must include diverse perspectives. Therefore, we strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically marginalized communities in the chemical sciences to apply.

How to apply:

Along with a résumé, applicants must submit three samples of their published work. Tell us in a cover letter what you can bring to this position. Send all materials to m_jacoby@acs.org after submitting your résumé below.

Job Location:  Position is based in Washington, DC.  Remote work will be considered for the right candidate.

This position will be primarily based in the Washington D.C. office. ACS employees work a hybrid work schedule, consisting of working onsite, three days per week. ACS employees are in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday with the third in-office day scheduled in consultation with the manager. While always welcome to work in the office, employees may work the other two days of the week from a location of their choice. New employees are immediately eligible for this hybrid work arrangement. ACS offers relocation assistance, if applicable.

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