Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Investigator, AI

at The Midas Project

🏢 About The Midas Project

The Midas Project is a watchdog nonprofit that monitors, investigates, and reports on the practices of leading AI companies to ensure transparency, privacy, and ethical standards are maintained. Unlike traditional media or think tanks, it combines deep investigative journalism with a mission-driven focus on corporate accountability in the AI sector. Working here means being on the front lines of exposing governance failures, safety lapses, and undue influence in one of the most powerful industries of our time.

About This Role

As a Senior Investigator, AI, you will lead independent investigations into AI companies, digging through corporate disclosures, legal filings, regulatory documents, and social media to verify claims and uncover misconduct. Your work will directly fuel Model Republic, the organization's investigative arm, producing rigorous stories that expose governance, safety, and influence issues. You'll also edit and fact-check colleagues and freelancers, ensuring every piece meets high journalistic standards.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day reviewing SEC filings or court documents related to an AI company's lobbying efforts, then cross-reference with social media posts to spot inconsistencies. After a team call to discuss story angles, you'll draft a section of an investigative piece, fact-check a freelancer's submission, and pitch a new lead to your editor. Expect a mix of deep research, collaborative editing, and independent writing, all in a remote setting.

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🎯 Who The Midas Project Is Looking For

  • Proven investigative journalist or policy researcher with a portfolio of published work exposing corporate accountability issues, preferably in tech or AI.
  • Deep familiarity with AI companies, their policy debates, and the regulatory landscape; able to quickly parse complex technical and legal documents.
  • Strong analytical skills to synthesize evidence from disparate sources—corporate disclosures, court records, lobbying filings, and social media—into compelling narratives.
  • Experience editing and fact-checking others' work, with a commitment to accuracy and ethical reporting.
  • Self-starter comfortable working remotely and independently, yet collaborative in a small nonprofit team.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Midas Project

1

Showcase investigative pieces that specifically target corporate accountability or tech policy—highlight how you verified claims and uncovered new information.

2

Demonstrate familiarity with AI industry players (e.g., OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic) and current debates around AI safety, governance, and lobbying.

3

In your cover letter, propose one or two concrete story ideas you'd pursue at The Midas Project, showing you understand their mission and audience.

4

Provide links to a portfolio that includes both long-form investigations and shorter pieces; if you have editing experience, mention specific examples of fact-checking or mentoring freelancers.

5

Connect your values to the nonprofit's watchdog role—show why you're passionate about holding AI companies accountable, not just reporting on tech.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

Emphasize your track record of independent investigations that led to impact or change. Highlight your ability to verify corporate claims using primary documents and data. Explain why The Midas Project's nonprofit, watchdog model appeals to you over traditional media. Finally, mention your experience editing or collaborating with freelancers, as this role includes team support.

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read recent investigations published by Model Republic (The Midas Project's outlet) to understand their tone, depth, and areas of focus.
  • → Study the AI policy landscape: key lobbying groups, recent regulatory efforts (e.g., EU AI Act, US executive orders), and controversies around AI safety.
  • → Look into The Midas Project's founders, funding, and past campaigns to align your motivations with their mission and culture.
  • → Follow the latest news on major AI companies' governance structures, safety commitments, and any scandals to identify gaps you could investigate.
Visit The Midas Project's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through an investigation you led from tip to publication—how did you verify information and what obstacles did you overcome?
2 How would you approach investigating an AI company's claim about safety or ethics? What sources would you prioritize?
3 What do you see as the biggest governance or influence issue in the AI industry right now, and how would you expose it?
4 Describe your experience with legal filings, regulatory documents, or corporate disclosures. How do you make sense of dense material?
5 How do you handle fact-checking and editing for others, especially when working with freelance contributors under deadline?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention AI companies or investigative journalism—this role requires specific expertise.
  • Focusing only on writing skills without demonstrating investigative rigor or experience with primary documents.
  • Neglecting to show familiarity with The Midas Project's nonprofit, watchdog approach; candidates who seem more interested in traditional tech reporting may be passed over.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: October 23, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

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 Midas Project!

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