Data Journalist (Data-Driven Research and PR) - 54213439778

Job Title: Data Journalist (Data-Driven Research and PR) Location: Remote Regions: South Africa or LATAM Employment Type: Contract or Full-Time Candidate Profile Focus & Core Criteria • AI-First Mindset: High proficiency using AI tools across the entire workflow, including research, dataset collection, web scraping, data cleaning, analysis, and initial narrative drafting. • Self-Directed & Self-Starter: Ability to take ownership of open-ended problems, independently navigate technical roadblocks, and push projects through to completion with a high drive for public-facing output creation and value delivery. Role Overview We are hiring a Data Journalist to produce original, data-driven research pieces that will be published across major media outlets as part of a PR and SEO strategy. This role is highly output-focused. Hiring decisions are based primarily on the quality of a candidate’s previously published work rather than traditional question-and-answer interview style. The Data Journalist will analyze large datasets and turn them into compelling, consumer-facing stories, particularly within the creator economy and broader business and market trends. This is a public-facing role focused on published research, not internal reporting. How We Evaluate Candidates Selection is based primarily on published work products. • Candidates must submit 3 to 5 published data-driven pieces. • Interviews will focus on walking through existing work, including: • Data sources, collection methods, and use of AI for research/analysis • How datasets were joined, cleaned, and analyzed • Use of SQL, APIs, scripting, or AI tools • Editorial judgment and headline selection • How the work could be improved with additional data access • Candidates must be willing to share published work. NDA-only experience is not a fit for this role. Key Responsibilities • Produce in-depth, data-driven research reports designed for media placement • Collect, analyze, and interpret public and proprietary datasets using traditional techniques and modern AI-driven tools • Take full ownership of open-ended research questions and figure out solutions independently when encountering data roadblocks • Write clear, compelling stories based on data insights with a strong focus on execution and value delivery • Identify headline-worthy findings from large datasets • Create charts, graphs, and visualizations that support storytelling • Work on long-form research projects that may span weeks or months • Contribute to research on the creator economy and digital platform trends Required Skills and Experience • AI & Technical Proficiency: AI-first approach to research, data collection, scraping, and analysis; strong SQL skills (joining tables across multiple datasets); experience working with internal/external databases; ability to write basic scripts to pull data from third-party APIs; advanced Excel/spreadsheet skills. • Ownership & Self-Direction: Proven track record as a self-starter who can be handed a broad problem, figure out how to solve it independently, and work around technical or data challenges without requiring step-by-step guidance. • Journalism & Storytelling: Proven experience producing published, data-driven journalism; native or near-native English writing proficiency; ability to translate complex data into engaging, consumer-facing stories; strong editorial judgment and sense of what is newsworthy. • Domain Knowledge: Experience covering business, markets, finance, real estate, sports analytics, or similar data-heavy beats. Ideal Background • Data Journalist at a media outlet or digital publication • Business Intelligence or Business Analyst with strong writing, self-direction, and storytelling skills • Experience producing research for external publication rather than internal reporting • Comfortable working on long-term research projects with full independence • Background in data-heavy industries such as finance, real estate, or market research There is significant overlap with a Business Analyst skill set, with the key differentiators being strong self-direction, AI-first research execution, and the ability to turn data into public-facing narratives. Content Focus • Creator economy and digital platforms such as TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, and online creators • Business and market trends related to digital industries • Focus is on industry data and trends, not influencer culture Location and Work Setup • Fully remote and offshore • Open to candidates based in South Africa or LATAM • Strong English proficiency is required What This Role Is Not • Not an internal reporting or dashboard-only role • Not a software engineering role • Not an academic or unpublished research position • Not assessment-driven; real, published work is required • Not a hand-held environment; passive candidates who rely on step-by-step direction are not a fit