Data Journalist at Murmuration Remote

Data Journalist job at Murmuration. Remote.Who We AreMurmuration 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 PositionWe 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: IC3What You’ll DoIdentify, 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; andStay on top of civic, political, demographic, and social trends to ensure our stories are not only accurate but also urgent and necessary.Requirements4+ 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; andCuriosity, 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 HavesExperience 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/orFamiliarity with publishing workflows, content management systems, or newsroom environments.Talented Data Jour