Application Guide

How to Apply for Social Media Strategist

at States Newsroom

🏢 About States Newsroom

States Newsroom is the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, offering nonpartisan reporting from every state capital. Working here means contributing to a mission of informing citizens about policy and politics free of charge, with a collaborative remote culture and impact across 50 states.

About This Role

As Social Media Strategist, you'll develop and execute a comprehensive social media strategy for a 50-state news network, with a strong emphasis on short-form video content (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts). Your work will directly amplify nonpartisan journalism, broaden audience reach, and engage citizens in state-level policy discussions.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day starts by scanning news from state bureaus and social media trends, then coordinating with reporters to identify stories ripe for short-form video. You'll edit 2-3 videos (TikToks, Reels) using CapCut or Premiere, schedule posts, and review analytics to adjust strategy. Afternoons involve team meetings, pitching partnerships, and researching platform updates.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who States Newsroom Is Looking For

  • A seasoned social media professional with 6+ years of experience, ideally in journalism or news, who can craft a national strategy that balances editorial integrity with viral storytelling.
  • Expert in short-form video production and editing, proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and CapCut, with a portfolio demonstrating news-to-video translation.
  • Data-driven and trend-aware, capable of using analytics to refine strategies and identify partnership opportunities to expand reach.
  • A strong storyteller who can make complex policy and political issues accessible and engaging for diverse audiences across platforms.

📝 Tips for Applying to States Newsroom

1

Highlight your experience with short-form video for news or nonpartisan content—include links to TikTok/Reels you've produced that explain policy or state issues.

2

Tailor your resume to show measurable impact: mention growth in followers, engagement rates, or successful campaigns that increased audience reach.

3

Demonstrate your understanding of nonpartisan journalism by referencing States Newsroom's work or similar outlets (e.g., Stateline) in your cover letter.

4

Submit a sample social media strategy for one state capital story (e.g., a recent legislative session) showing how you'd create short-form video content.

5

Mention any experience with remote collaboration across multiple teams or states, as the role requires coordinating with reporters nationwide.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for nonpartisan journalism and making state-level politics accessible to the public.', 'Specific examples of short-form video projects where you translated complex news into engaging content.', "Your strategic thinking: how you've developed and executed a multi-platform social media strategy with measurable results.", 'Your ability to work independently in a remote environment while collaborating with a distributed editorial team.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review States Newsroom's current social media presence (Twitter/X, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) to understand their tone and content gaps.
  • → Read recent articles from their network (e.g., from Michigan Advance or Florida Phoenix) to get a feel for the reporting style.
  • → Look at how other nonprofit news organizations (e.g., ProPublica, The Marshall Project) handle short-form video for inspiration.
  • → Understand the political landscape: key state-level issues in 2024-2025 that could drive content (e.g., redistricting, education funding).
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you prioritize content from 50 states? Walk us through your process for selecting stories for short-form video.
2 Describe a time you used analytics to pivot a social media strategy. What metrics did you focus on?
3 How do you ensure nonpartisan tone in social content while still making it engaging?
4 Give an example of a successful partnership or collaboration that expanded your audience.
5 How do you stay current with social media trends, especially in short-form video, and how would you apply them to news?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Being too partisan or opinionated in your application or interview—this is a nonpartisan organization.
  • Focusing only on viral trends without showing how they connect to substantive policy reporting.
  • Underestimating the challenge of covering 50 states: avoid proposing a one-size-fits-all strategy without acknowledging diversity of audiences.

📅 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 States Newsroom!

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