Games Writer, Polygon

Job Description

Polygon is searching for an intrepid, creative, opinionated writer to contribute to the site's core gaming coverage. In an evolving landscape where strong perspective and curiosity are everything, the writer will play an instrumental role in helping our readers understand the world they live in through the games they play.

WHO WE ARE

Polygon is a modern entertainment brand, covering the media that young people love. We connect our audience directly to the content they want to enjoy; to the culture and the inclusive community they want to be a part of; and to the stories and ideas they otherwise wouldn't know existed.

Polygon is part of Vox Media, the leading modern media company. We guide our audience from discovery to obsession. We inspire essential conversations about what's now, what's next, and what's possible.

As a community of journalists and storytellers, business professionals, creators and technologists, we believe it is a moral and business imperative to amplify voices: to cultivate diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our organization and media. This applies to our candidates, our teams, our storytelling, our creative work, and our platforms, products, and partnerships.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Games Writer will work directly with the Games Editor and other section stakeholders to carve out recurring coverage for the gaming beat, including reactive news coverage, opinion and criticism, curatorial work, and longer-term features. The writer will be assigned key beats throughout the year while also pitching ideas that will lead Polygon's editorial in exciting new directions. The writer will also be encouraged to work with other editors and teams on coverage areas such as tabletop gaming, internet culture, film and television, and anything that fits the core editorial purview of the site.
On a weekly basis, the Games Writer will:
• Write and lay out stories for the Games team, both short-form and long-form
• Work on deadline, while pitching and developing future assignments
• Maintain a calendar with the Games Editor that allows for reactive, news-driven writing
• Play games for consideration, analysis, and potential reporting
• Contribute to brainstorms and event-planning meetings in order to shape coverage
• Work with Polygon's Entertainment, Culture, Guides, Commerce, Curation, and Special Issues teams on high-priority projects
• Occasionally make appearances on panels and in radio, television, and other media as appropriate for the brand
• Refine and enforce our voice, mission, and point of view through development of stories

WHO YOU ARE

You have a vision for the future of video games coverage, and want to match that vision to Polygon's style, but also push us forward. You're knowledgeable about the games space, but always curious about what's new and different.

You're a skilled storyteller who can see an emerging narrative everywhere, is always ready to pitch ideas and start a conversation, can collaborate with editors to develop ideas, and can deliver drafts on deadline.

You're deeply in tune with video games and broader culture, granting you the ability to connect the past to the present and future and guide readers deeper into the stuff they love.

You're comfortable with using modern newsroom strategies and tools to help stories find their audiences, and are ready to pivot when an urgent peg shakes up priorities.

You have a full journalistic toolbox that allows you to pitch everything from a critical op-ed to a deeper analysis or a longer sit-down with an interview subject.

You're organized and value an editorial calendar. You like to spend time planning for long-term coverage while also adapting to changing trends as news happens.

You're collaborative, and comfortable sharing your opinions and feedback respectfully yet directly. You can work not just with your own team, but with other teams and verticals.

If you think you have what it takes, but don't meet every single point in our job posting, please apply with a cover letter to let us know how you believe you can bring your unique skills to the Vox Media team, or get in touch! We've hired chefs who became editors, DJs who became UX designers, and sommeliers who became writers.

All applications are due by September 11 at 5pm ET.

WHERE YOU'LL WORK

This job is remote, with opportunities to work out of Vox Media offices where possible.

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The salary range listed below represents the minimum and maximum base pay for this position at the time of this posting. Final salary offered to the candidate selected for the position will be based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience.

Pay Range

$70,000 — $77,000 USD

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-reemw5-18-188-119-50-42 in your application.