Demo

Playbook Editor

POLITICO
Arlington, VA Full Time
POSTED ON 1/8/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 3/4/2026
POLITICO is seeking a Playbook Editor to help guide the next chapter of Washington’s most influential political newsletter.

The Playbook Editor will work in close partnership with the author and executive producer to deliver an indispensable daily read for the people shaping U.S. politics. Creativity and a strong collaborative approach will be required to engage POLITICO’s newsroom to surface exclusive reporting, sharp analysis and behind-the-scenes insights that make Playbook a must-open read every morning.

In a fast-changing media landscape reshaped by technology and AI, the Playbook editor will constantly look for inventive ways to surprise readers, distinguish POLITICO’s journalism and define what it means to cover Washington at the highest level.

What You’ll Do

  • Drive daily editorial direction: Work with the Playbook author to determine what leads the newsletter and which stories capture the day’s power dynamics in Washington
  • Harness POLITICO’s newsroom: Work with the executive producer and desks across the newsroom to elevate exclusive reporting, original analysis and fresh insights
  • Shape and sharpen the product: Develop the daily outline with the author and executive producer, then help draft and edit the next morning’s edition to ensure a smart, engaging and buzzy newsletter
  • Curate and contextualize: Identify the most compelling political nuggets, forward-looking trends and parlor-room intrigue that our audience craves
  • Collaborate seamlessly: Participate in daily editorial meetings, maintain close communication with colleagues throughout the news cycle, and help set the agenda for Washington’s morning conversation

What You’ll Need

  • Deep knowledge of Washington politics, institutions, and personalities — and the ability to distill complex power dynamics into lively, authoritative prose
  • Proven experience as a political editor or senior writer in a fast-paced, deadline-driven newsroom
  • Exceptional editorial judgment, writing and line-editing skills
  • A collaborative mindset and an instinct for illuminating, forward-looking journalism
  • A passion for breaking news, exclusive scoops, and smart analysis that goes beyond the headlines

We value our people. Click here for more on what we offer and what it’s like to work for POLITICO.

Let’s keep in touch. You can view our list of open positions here.

About Us.

POLITICO illuminates the forces shaping global power. Since 2007, we have delivered intelligence that anticipates tomorrow's headlines, not reports on yesterday's news. As politics has increasingly become the defining force of our era, our work has never been more vital.

Cabinet secretaries and Ministers start their mornings with our analysis. CEOs shape strategy around our reporting. Advocacy leaders rely on our insights to move policy. We deliver the straightforward facts and clear-eyed analysis they need to navigate the most complex political landscape of our lifetimes.

Our 1,100 publishing professionals across the world's key democratic capitals—Washington, Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, Sacramento, and New York—form the world's premier politics and policy newsroom. We tell the story of how power really works by explaining who wields it and how they plan to exercise it, connecting dots others miss and delivering scoops from sources others don't even know exist.

Innovation has always been a core tenet of our story. At launch, we bet that depth would trump scale, that talent would trump traffic, and that politics would become central to modern life. In 2011, we made another bet and launched POLITICO Pro to help decision-makers understand the business of government, transforming both how they shape government action and the business of journalism itself.

These bets have made POLITICO the most successful digital news startup of its generation and the indispensable resource for leaders who shape the future. Today, we are a rarity in media: a growing, profitable, and sustainable news organization.

POLITICO is a subsidiary of Axel Springer SE, a family-owned transatlantic media company headquartered in Berlin and New York. Axel Springer is dedicated to shaping the future of journalism in the free world, believing that a free and informed society is essential to democracy. The company’s guiding principles - first articulated as The Essentials by founder Axel Springer in the aftermath of World War II - remain a cornerstone of the company’s foundation today. Learn more about Axel Springer.

Salary.com Estimation for Playbook Editor in Arlington, VA
$82,407 to $105,161
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Playbook Editor?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Playbook Editor career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$69,307 - $89,834
Income Estimation: 
$88,467 - $114,456
Income Estimation: 
$65,767 - $91,452
Income Estimation: 
$57,761 - $72,087
Income Estimation: 
$69,307 - $89,834
Income Estimation: 
$60,028 - $80,198
Income Estimation: 
$52,853 - $69,541
Income Estimation: 
$52,572 - $69,468
Income Estimation: 
$69,307 - $89,834
Income Estimation: 
$88,467 - $114,456
Income Estimation: 
$65,767 - $91,452
Income Estimation: 
$88,467 - $114,456
Income Estimation: 
$102,738 - $142,837

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Playbook Editor.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Audio Editing Skill

    • Income Estimation: $46,287 - $60,014
    • Income Estimation: $53,054 - $70,103
  • Audio Production Skill

    • Income Estimation: $57,496 - $75,757
    • Income Estimation: $89,340 - $105,932
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at POLITICO

  • POLITICO Arlington, VA
  • POLITICO is in a transformational moment. We are a global newsroom, growing rapidly and focused on driving impact across politics, policy, and power. We ar... more
  • 5 Days Ago

  • POLITICO Arlington, VA
  • POLITICO’s mission from the very beginning was to win the audience. We dedicate ourselves to providing accurate, non-partisan, impactful information to the... more
  • 6 Days Ago

  • POLITICO California, CA
  • Los Angeles Influence: How Hollywood and entertainment are shaping politics POLITICO is looking for an experienced and well-sourced reporter in Los Angeles... more
  • 11 Days Ago

  • POLITICO Arlington, VA
  • POLITICO is seeking a sharp and energetic editor to join our Central Editing Desk. Are you an editor with a passion for mentoring early-career colleagues? ... more
  • 2 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Playbook Editor jobs in the Arlington, VA area that may be a better fit.

  • Middle East Broadcasting Networks Springfield, VA
  • Job Announcement Editor SPECIFIC DUTIES/ RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties and responsibilities listed below are essential functions of the job: Demonstrate adv... more
  • 17 Days Ago

  • Constellation West Reston, VA
  • Job Description And Tasks Contract personnel shall work closely with program leaders, product owners, and subject matter experts to develop a range of prod... more
  • 1 Month Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!