Overview
U.S. Right to Know is seeking a multimedia science reporter to cover the commercial determinants of health, how industries (such as tobacco, ultra-processed food, chemical, alcohol, fossil fuel, plastic, gambling, e-cigarette, advertising and social media), companies and their products and practices impair public health.
An editorial in The Lancet last year pointed out that the tobacco, unhealthy food, fossil fuel and alcohol industries “are responsible for at least a third of global deaths per year.”
U.S. Right to Know is a nonprofit public health research group working globally to expose corporate wrongdoing and government failures that threaten our health, environment and food system. We uncover, report on and share documents obtained through public records laws and from whistleblowers, and collaborate with public health academics and journalists around the world.
Our investigations into the ultra-processed food and pesticide industries have been reported on worldwide, leading to four New York Times articles; 14 articles in the BMJ, one of the world’s leading medical journals; and 16 co-authored peer-reviewed public health journal articles. Our team has also reported extensively on the origins of Covid-19 and high-risk virological research.
Our fact sheets on chemicals of concern – for example, aspartame, sucralose, glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4-D and PFAS – have been read by more than one million people.
The multimedia science reporter will report on new scientific studies about the commercial determinants of health, that is, how industries and their products drive sickness and death in the United States and across the world. They will prepare news articles similar to wire service copy, and short videos, interviews and graphics, and post them on social media.
The multimedia science reporter can be based anywhere in the United States.
Qualifications
● Wire service experience is preferred
● Background in science is preferred
● Multimedia experience is preferred
● Knowledge of commercial determinants of health is preferred
● Exceptional writing and research skills
● Computer literate, and comfortable with acquiring new skills
● Flexible and able to manage multiple projects in a timely manner
● Self-motivated and able to work independently
This position is available immediately. Compensation is competitive and based on experience. Please submit a cover letter, resume and three writing samples to Gary Ruskin, executive director of U.S. Right to Know, at gary@usrtk.org. In the email subject line, please write: “MULTIMEDIA SCIENCE REPORTER”.
U.S. Right to Know is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, please see usrtk.org.
About U.S. Right to Know
U.S. Right to Know is a nonprofit investigative research group focused on promoting transparency for public health. We are working globally to expose corporate wrongdoing and government failures that threaten the integrity of our health, our environment and our food system.
