How to apply for Social Media Editor, POGO Investigates

About Project On Government Oversight

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that champions good government reforms and exposes corruption, waste, and abuse of power. Working at POGO means joining a team of passionate investigative journalists and policy experts who hold the powerful accountable and drive tangible change. It's a place for those who believe in the power of journalism to create a more transparent and equitable society.

About the role

As the Social Media Editor for POGO Investigates, you will be the digital voice of POGO's investigative team, translating complex stories into compelling social-first content that reaches and engages a broad audience. You'll manage platforms like Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, creating videos, graphics, and copy that drive traffic to investigations and foster community discussions. Your work will directly amplify POGO's impact by making their watchdog journalism accessible and shareable.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with reporters to discuss upcoming investigations, editing a short video explainer for TikTok, scheduling posts for the latest POGO report, and engaging with community comments across platforms. You'll also monitor social trends for real-time opportunities to insert POGO's voice into relevant conversations, all while analyzing performance metrics to refine strategy.

Who Project On Government Oversight is looking for

• Has at least 3 years of social media management experience in a news or media environment, with a proven track record of growing audiences and engagement.
• Possesses exceptional writing and editing skills, able to distill complex investigative findings into clear, accurate, and engaging social copy.
• Is proficient with video editing tools (e.g., Adobe Premiere, CapCut) and graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Photoshop) to create visually compelling content.
• Is deeply committed to POGO's mission of government accountability and has a keen eye for identifying trending topics and opportunities for social conversation.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of how you've translated complex or investigative content into successful social media campaigns, including metrics that demonstrate impact.
• Showcase your video editing and graphic design skills by including a portfolio or links to social content you've created, especially any that involved data visualization or explainer formats.
• Demonstrate familiarity with POGO's work by referencing recent investigations or campaigns in your cover letter and explaining how you would approach promoting them on social media.
• Emphasize your ability to work collaboratively with journalists and editors, ensuring accuracy and adherence to editorial standards while maintaining a fast-paced social media presence.
• In your application, propose one or two creative ideas for how POGO could engage new audiences on a specific platform, showing your strategic thinking and platform expertise.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your experience in a newsroom or media setting, specifically how you've collaborated with reporters and editors to amplify investigative journalism.", "Concrete examples of social media campaigns you've led that increased engagement, reach, or traffic, with measurable results.", "Your proficiency with video editing and graphic design tools, and how you've used them to create shareable content for complex stories.", "Your passion for POGO's mission and a clear understanding of how social media can be a tool for accountability journalism and community building."]

Research before applying

• Explore POGO's recent investigations and their social media accounts to understand the tone, style, and types of content they currently produce.
• Research POGO's mission, history, and key issue areas (e.g., defense, ethics, government waste) to speak knowledgeably about their work.
• Look into POGO's audience and how they engage with supporters, including any newsletters, events, or community forums.
• Analyze the social media strategies of similar nonprofit newsrooms (e.g., ProPublica, The Marshall Project) to identify best practices and innovative ideas.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach promoting a long-form investigative report on social media to maximize reach and engagement across different platforms?
• Can you describe a time when you had to correct misinformation or handle a sensitive comment on social media? How did you manage it?
• What social media trends or platform features do you think POGO should leverage to reach new audiences, and why?
• How do you balance the need for speed and virality with the accuracy and ethical standards of investigative journalism?
• Describe your process for analyzing social media metrics and using that data to inform content strategy. Can you give an example of a change you made based on data?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using generic social media examples that don't relate to investigative journalism or complex topics, showing a lack of understanding of the role's unique challenges.
• Focusing solely on follower counts or vanity metrics without demonstrating how you've driven meaningful engagement or traffic to important content.
• Neglecting to mention collaboration with editorial teams, which is critical in a newsroom environment where accuracy and editorial integrity are paramount.