Government & Policy Journalist in Residence (Office of the Dean,SOGP)
The newly announced School of Government and Public Policy, unveiled in October 2023, presents a pivotal opportunity for Johns Hopkins University to strengthen its footprint and engagement in the nation’s capital. This initiative aims to serve society, train the next generation of public servants, drive data-informed government innovation, and confront the complex challenges facing today’s policymakers.
We are seeking a Government & Policy Journalist in Residence who will be working in a start-up environment – creating processes and procedures, navigating unexpected obstacles, and adapting to change frequently. An agile mindset and flexible approach to daily responsibilities is needed as we define new ways of working within a well-established university. We are seeking a solution-focused person with a demonstrated ability to create new paths to achieve results.
The Journalist in Residence Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Government is designed to integrate distinguished media practitioners into the academic environment, enhancing the school's mission in research, education, and public discourse. This program aims to bridge cutting-edge social-science research and public dialogue while fostering a dynamic exchange between academia and journalism.
The Journalist in Residence will be embedded at the School of Government for one academic year (2025-26), collaborating with faculty and students while providing practical insights and fostering connections between academic research and public policy discourse.
This is an appointment which is for up to one year, may be benefit-eligible depending on type of commitment and may be eligible for renewal.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- The Journalist in Residence will be responsible for three primary work-streams.
Public Programming
- Host flagship events featuring academics, practitioners, and journalists debating liberalism, technology & society, regulatory reform, and institutional performance.
- Organize and facilitate public facing events.
- Permitted to publicly affiliate with the JHU School of Government and Policy in public forums, conferences, and media engagements, sharing insights on contemporary policy issues.
- Participate in and serve as a media expert in School of Government webinars, podcasts, and articles.
- Conceive of and organize events that connect students and JHU alumni around policy-specific issues that build networks within the school and throughout the university.
Research Immersion
- Engage with faculty across economics, political science, sociology, and public health to surface under-reported findings ripe for translation to general audiences.
- Work alongside faculty on research projects, serving as an intellectual bridge between academic inquiries and real-world governance and policy issues.
- Contribute to the school's policy initiatives, serving as a thought leader in the translation of research findings into actionable policy recommendations and public discourse.
- Lead research collaborations focused on evidence-driven policy analysis and reporting.
- Facilitate faculty focused workshops on how to effectively engage with journalists.
Educational Enhancement
- Advise and develop curriculum or courses providing real-world policy experience and media perspectives.
- Collaborate with faculty to design course modules that incorporate practical case studies and current policy debates.
- Enrich the curriculum by participating in or teaching lectures, seminars, and/or workshops offering students firsthand perspectives on policy journalism and public discourse.
- Support co-curricular activities that enhance the academic experience of students.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree.
- Five to seven years of experience in journalism, media, or policy communication work.
- An established practitioner or leader with strong journalism experience, academic and professional achievement, and a demonstrated commitment to evidence-driven policy writing and public discourse.
- Strong ties to a journalism and policy community (local, regional, national or international), facilitating opportunities and building networks for collaboration and enhancing the school's national and international profile.
- Demonstrated experience in bridging academic research and public discourse.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications
- An experienced practitioner with a record of being responsive to emerging governmental, policy and societal needs.
- A demonstrated record of understanding and integrating evidence-based research and practical policy recommendations into public-facing content.
- Experience in fellowship program development or newsroom-style mentorship.
- Track record of successful public programming and event hosting.
Classified Title: Government & Policy Exec. in Residence
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Government & Policy Journalist in Residence (Office of the Dean,SOGP)
Role/Level/Range: APPTSTAF/01/ST
Starting Salary Range: Commensurate w/exp.
Employee group: Limited
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Remote
Department name: Office of the Dean
Personnel area: School of Government & Policy