Data Journalist (Remote or Hybrid)

CSG Justice Center

Data Journalist

Who we are :

The Council of State Governments Justice Center works across the country to develop research-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities.

To further this mission, we work with partners inside and outside of government to reduce crime and incarceration among youth and adults in contact with the justice system.

We bring people from diverse systems and perspectives together to improve policy and practice. And we transform data and research findings into meaningful insights for decision-makers.

We're focused on three strategic goals :

• Break the cycle of incarceration.
• Advance health, opportunity, and equity.
• Use data to improve safety and justice.

When you join the CSG Justice Center, you join an organization that is uniquely positioned to cultivate innovation and drive data-driven reform nationally.

We have over 170 employees based in more than 30 states who have decades of experience working in and with criminal, juvenile, and Tribal justice agencies.

We have provided housing, mental health, and addiction services; served as educators and in workforce development agencies;

and supported victims and survivors of crime. We have served governors, state legislators, and members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum.

What binds us together is a shared commitment to our mission; to one another; to a common set of values; and to the national, bipartisan advisory board that guides our work.

Learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center.

How you'll fit in :

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is seeking a talented data journalist to join our research and communications teams.

This role will be focused on storytelling through the analysis and synthesis of data from various criminal justice agencies, including law enforcement, prosecution, defense attorneys, court systems, jails, prisons, probation, and parole agencies.

The data journalist will take complex data and research and transform it into compelling stories and visualizations to further our mission of advancing data-driven criminal justice decisions and policies that improve public safety.

The data journalist will work with a team of policy specialists and data scientists to create highlighting data trends across the justice system continuum to help communities, agencies, and policymakers make decisions at the local, state, and national levels.

The data journalist will also play an important role in identifying, conceiving, and leading data reporting on criminal justice agencies, efficient data analysis, and that use data to engage audiences through stories or products.

The data journalist should have a keen eye for finding good stories and investigating them deeply while producing fair, clear, and engaging stories explaining complex subjects related to the criminal justice system.

This position is funded for one year with the possibility of extending the contract to become a permanent position at the conclusion of the first year.

What you'll do :

Specific responsibilities of the data journalist include the following :

• Be first and foremost a journalist with substantial experience with reporting, interviewing, and researching from a wide variety of sources, including people, documents, and databases from criminal justice agencies.
• Synthesize reporting and analysis into compelling stories, visuals, and products with clarity and rigor, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in criminal justice data collection and reporting.
• Identify and understand the data from various criminal justice agencies , including research and government reports, and understand how to join this data with civic, social, and economic data like census or labor data.
• Pitch ideas for original stories and contribute data reporting and analysis to stories conceived by others, focusing on the criminal justice system.
• Research reports to uncover key insights and trends in areas such as law enforcement, courts, incarceration, recidivism, behavioral health, and Justice Reinvestment.
• Craft vivid narratives and clear explanations from data analysis to highlight important findings and implications for policymakers and the public.
• Inform the development of informative, visually appealing infographics, charts, graphs, and other visuals to bring statistics and findings to life in ways that are actionable for decision- and policy-makers.
• Write d ata-driven articles, explainers, blog posts, and multimedia stories to be featured on our website, social media, and other platforms.
• Collaborate with policy staff, researchers, and communications team members to identify promising avenues for data journalism projects.
• Keep abreast of criminal justice policy issues and best practices in data journalism and digital storytelling.

What you'll bring :

• Ability to interact effectively with diverse people in different contexts and foster equity and inclusion through self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and valuing others
• Dedication to public service with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing CSG Justice Center duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds
• A bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field is required
• At least 6 years of experience reporting and working with data to craft compelling stories for a policy or journalism outlet
• Experience in beat reporting, investigative reporting, or data related to criminal justice agencies (such as law enforcement, prosecution, defense attorneys, courts, prisons and jails, probation, parole, government budgeting, private companies) at any level (city, county, state, region, national)
• Excellent writing and editing abilities with sharp attention to detail and the ability to collaborate with multiple reviewers
• Strong analytic skills to derive insights from complex datasets and the ability to translate technical information into clear, engaging stories
• Skill in compelling and informative graphics summarizing complex data for audiences composed of state and local elected officials and policymakers, funders, and other stakeholders
• Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively present complex information in a concise way
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including maturity, keen judgement, and self-confidence, with a sense of humor and ability to maintain balance and perspective
• Efficient, organized work style; an ability to prioritize quickly and confidently; and the ability to handle multiple projects at once
• Deep commitment to transparency, accuracy, and ethics in data journalism
• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization tools like Excel, Tableau, R, Python, D3, Highcharts, etc.
• Background in best practices for promoting racial equity through data preferred
• Reliable and secure internet / data connection and flexibility for using a personal device for internet connectivity during business travel.

A cost offset is provided by CSG

How you apply :

If you're interested in helping us drive change across the country, you should upload the following elements with your application :

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Writing sample (A published piece in which you used data to tell a story, such as an article, blog post, etc. Please do not submit academic papers or coursework.)
• At least three professional references

We will consider all paid and unpaid experience relative to this position, including internships, fellowships, and volunteer activities.

CSG believes that pay equity and pay transparency advance workplace fairness. Compensation will be equitable and based on experience and geography.

The salary range for this position is $79,000-$107,500. Salary ranges are subject to change based on work location and market conditions.

Our organization offers flexibility in work arrangements, allowing for remote work or a hybrid model. Candidates residing in the NYC metropolitan area will be considered for hybrid model employment.

To learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center, and about our comprehensive benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, PSLF eligibility and more, please visit our website here .

We welcome and value diversity in our staff, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, educational attainment, disability, protected veteran status, and personal experience with the criminal justice system.

CSG is an Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. CSG participates in E-Verify.

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