What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Writer position at The Baylor Line?
Type: Full-time
Location: Waco, Texas (in-person)
Reports to: Editor-in-chief
The Baylor Line is an independent, nonprofit alumni media organization serving Baylor graduates through a magazine, newsletters, podcasts, events, and a growing membership community. We exist to tell long-form, creative stories about every Baylor grad – with independence, inclusiveness, and impact – and to provide rigorous coverage from beyond campus.
Our team is made up of generous, creative folks who want to see the best for their fellow teammates, our members, and the organization. We take finding the “right fit” candidate very seriously. Meet the rest of our team here.
The Staff Writer is responsible for delivering independent, inclusive, high-quality reporting that strengthens alumni connections and upholds editorial independence. This includes producing long-form profiles, investigative reporting, enterprise coverage, and timely briefs. The writer must bring established reporting experience and a portfolio showing a variety of long-form, investigative, and breaking news coverage.
- Pitch, report, and write long-form features, enterprise stories, and timely coverage of Baylor and Baylor alumni.
- Keep a strong beat on Baylor’s administration, campus community, and role in higher education.
- Build and maintain a diverse source network across alumni, faculty, administration, and experts.
- Conduct interviews and gather information with rigor, fairness, and sensitivity.
- Collaborate with the editor-in-chief on editorial direction, packages, and priorities.
- Adapt stories for the web, newsletters, and social platforms.
- Uphold inclusiveness and independence in all reporting.
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, or equivalent professional reporting experience.
- Professional reporting experience with a portfolio showing journalistic writing, investigative reporting, and breaking news coverage.
- Ability to originate, research, and pitch compelling story ideas.
- Excellence in writing with narrative structure, clarity, and accuracy.
- Familiarity with modern magazine and news writing styles and newsroom deadlines.
- Digital fluency across the web, newsletters, and social.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in sourcing and storytelling.
Preferred:
- Multimedia skills (audio, video, photo, data visualization).
- Established network in Waco and at Baylor.
- Experience reporting on intersectional and complex institutional topics.
- Familiarity with tools such as WordPress, Google Workspace, and newsletter or other content publishing platforms.
- Baylor alumni connections or demonstrated knowledge of the Baylor community.
- Independent journalist mindset: curious, fair, and rigorous.
- Collaborative and creative magazine storyteller.
- Mission-driven and inclusive.
- Adaptable and feedback-driven.
- Organized and deadline-focused.
- Community-oriented with a commitment to diverse voices.
This is a full-time, salaried-exempt position that reports to our editor-in-chief. This position is eligible for our benefits package, including premium health care, generous PTO, and paid family leave, among other stellar perks.
Employees are expected to work synchronously from 9-5 pm CT, Monday through Friday, and whatever additional hours are necessary to achieve the outcomes they are responsible for. We are simultaneously committed to delivering the operating results we are committed to together while also having the margin we need for our health and most important relationships. To that end, we allow flexibility to pick up children from school, attend to personal matters or appointments, etc. so long as you complete your work and communicate with your supervisor about it in advance. And, we encourage employees to constantly evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of their work to enable them to “achieve more” by doing less.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Physical and Mental: The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job responsibilities.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit for extended periods of time; use hands to touch, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, bend, crouch; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Repetitive motion of the upper body. Required specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to work in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful, customer service- and production-oriented environment, perform duties under pressure, and meet deadlines in a timely manner. The employee must also work as part of a team, complete assignments independently, and take instructions from managers.
- Employees must be free from chemical dependency. Employees must demonstrate sustained mental and emotional stability in order to maintain safe boundaries with and for our team and stakeholders.
The Baylor Line is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities and provide reasonable accommodations during the hiring process upon request. We promote an inclusive and diverse workplace where all are welcomed and affirmed. We actively seek out underrepresented voices in our sourcing, staffing, and storytelling. We foster a workplace culture where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully. By embracing diversity in thought, background, and lived experiences, we strengthen our independence, enrich our storytelling, and better serve the Baylor Family.
Please submit:
- Resume
- 3–5 links showing long-form, investigative, and breaking news work
- A cover note including beat ideas for your first 3-5 stories
- Responses to the application questions
Qualified applicants will receive further instructions upon review of the submitted items. We cannot guarantee a reply to all applicants. Applicants are discouraged from reaching out to hiring manager(s) directly by phone, email, or social media.
To apply: Complete the following Google Form to apply.
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