Application Guide

How to Apply for Designer, Visual Storytelling

at The 19th

🏢 About The 19th

The 19th is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom that centers women, LGBTQ+ people, and other historically underserved communities in its journalism. It's an award-winning outlet with a mission-driven approach, making it a unique place for designers who want their work to have social impact. Working here means contributing to a more inclusive media landscape.

About This Role

This role is central to translating The 19th's ambitious journalism into compelling visuals across illustration, social graphics, and visual identity systems. You'll collaborate with reporters and editors to make complex stories accessible and impactful, directly serving the mission to amplify underrepresented voices. It's a fast-paced, multidisciplinary position that blends editorial design with social media strategy.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a morning check-in with the editorial director of visuals to prioritize tasks. You might spend the morning creating an illustration for a feature story, then pivot to designing social graphics for a breaking news piece. Afternoon could involve collaborating with a reporter to refine a data visualization or reviewing your work with the brand designer for consistency. You'd likely end the day by organizing your files and preparing for the next day's deadlines.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The 19th Is Looking For

  • A visual journalist with a strong portfolio demonstrating editorial illustration, social graphics, and visual storytelling across platforms.
  • Proficient in design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and able to adapt to existing brand systems while creating story-specific visuals.
  • Collaborative and communicative, able to work closely with reporters, editors, and multimedia producers in a remote environment.
  • Comfortable with daily news deadlines and long-term projects, with a keen eye for detail and visual consistency.

📝 Tips for Applying to The 19th

1

Tailor your portfolio to highlight editorial illustration and social-first graphics, especially any work that centers underrepresented communities.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your design approach to The 19th's mission of centering women and LGBTQ+ people.

3

Showcase your ability to work within brand systems by including examples where you adapted existing templates for story-specific needs.

4

Since it's remote, emphasize your communication skills and experience with remote collaboration tools in your application.

5

Submit before the deadline and double-check that your application includes all required materials, such as a resume and portfolio links.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for visual storytelling that serves underrepresented communities and aligns with The 19th's mission.", "Specific examples of how you've translated complex journalism into accessible visuals, showing both creativity and strategic thinking.", 'Your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (reporters, editors, producers) and manage multiple projects.', "Why you're excited to work at a nonprofit newsroom and how your skills can help amplify The 19th's impact."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read several of The 19th's articles to understand their editorial style and the types of stories they cover.
  • → Study their social media channels to see how they use graphics and illustrations currently, and think about how you could improve or expand that.
  • → Review The 19th's brand guidelines or visual identity if available, to familiarize yourself with their aesthetic.
  • → Look into their annual reports or mission statements to understand their impact and audience.
Visit The 19th's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach creating a visual story for a sensitive topic like gender-based violence?
2 Describe a time you had to adapt a brand system to a unique story—what was your process?
3 How do you prioritize and manage your time when working on both daily news graphics and long-term projects?
4 How do you ensure your designs are accessible to diverse audiences, including those with disabilities?
5 How do you stay updated on design trends and apply them to editorial storytelling?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic portfolio that doesn't include editorial or social-focused work—this role is specifically for visual storytelling.
  • Ignoring the mission-driven nature of the company; if your application doesn't reflect passion for the cause, it may be overlooked.
  • Not demonstrating remote collaboration skills, as the role is fully remote and requires strong communication.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The 19th!

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