Data Journalist (Data-Driven Research and PR)

Job Title:Data Journalist (Data-Driven Research and PR)

Location:Remote

Regions:South Africa or LATAM

Employment Type:Contract or Full-Time

Candidate Profile Focus & Core Criteria
* AI-First Mindset:High proficiency using AI tools across the entire workflow, including research, dataset collection, web scraping, data cleaning, analysis, and initial narrative drafting.
* Self-Directed & Self-Starter:Ability to take ownership of open-ended problems, independently navigate technical roadblocks, and push projects through to completion with a high drive for public-facing output creation and value delivery.
Role Overview

We are hiring a Data Journalist to produce original, data-driven research pieces that will be published across major media outlets as part of a PR and SEO strategy. This role is highly output-focused. Hiring decisions are based primarily on the quality of a candidate’s previously published work rather than traditional question-and-answer interview style.

The Data Journalist will analyze large datasets and turn them into compelling, consumer-facing stories, particularly within the creator economy and broader business and market trends. This is a public-facing role focused on published research, not internal reporting.

How We Evaluate Candidates

Selection is based primarily on published work products.
* Candidates must submit 3 to 5 published data-driven pieces.
* Interviews will focus on walking through existing work, including:Data sources, collection methods, and use of AI for research/analysisHow datasets were joined, cleaned, and analyzedUse of SQL, APIs, scripting, or AI toolsEditorial judgment and headline selectionHow the work could be improved with additional data access
* Data sources, collection methods, and use of AI for research/analysis
* How datasets were joined, cleaned, and analyzed
* Use of SQL, APIs, scripting, or AI tools
* Editorial judgment and headline selection
* How the work could be improved with additional data access
* Candidates must be willing to share published work. NDA-only experience is not a fit for this role.
Key Responsibilities
* Produce in-depth, data-driven research reports designed for media placement
* Collect, analyze, and interpret public and proprietary datasets using traditional techniques and modern AI-driven tools
* Take full ownership of open-ended research questions and figure out solutions independently when encountering data roadblocks
* Write clear, compelling stories based on data insights with a strong focus on execution and value delivery
* Identify headline-worthy findings from large datasets
* Create charts, graphs, and visualizations that support storytelling
* Work on long-form research projects that may span weeks or months
* Contribute to research on the creator economy and digital platform trends
Required Skills and Experience
* AI & Technical Proficiency:AI-first approach to research, data collection, scraping, and analysis; strong SQL skills (joining tables across multiple datasets); experience working with internal/external databases; ability to write basic scripts to pull data from third-party APIs; advanced Excel/spreadsheet skills.
* Ownership & Self-Direction:Proven track record as a self-starter who can be handed a broad problem, figure out how to solve it independently, and work around technical or data challenges without requiring step-by-step guidance.
* Journalism & Storytelling:Proven experience producing published, data-driven journalism; native or near-native English writing proficiency; ability to translate complex data into engaging, consumer-facing stories; strong editorial judgment and sense of what is newsworthy.
* Domain Knowledge:Experience covering business, markets, finance, real estate, sports analytics, or similar data-heavy beats.
Ideal Background
* Data Journalist at a media outlet or digital publication
* Business Intelligence or Business Analyst with strong writing, self-direction, and storytelling skills
* Experience producing research for external publication rather than internal reporting
* Comfortable working on long-term research projects with full independence
* Background in data-heavy industries such as finance, real estate, or market research
There is significant overlap with a Business Analyst skill set, with the key differentiators being strong self-direction, AI-first research execution, and the ability to turn data into public-facing narratives.

Content Focus
* Creator economy and digital platforms such as TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, and online creators
* Business and market trends related to digital industries
* Focus is on industry data and trends, not influencer culture
Location and Work Setup
* Fully remote and offshore
* Open to candidates based in South Africa or LATAM
* Strong English proficiency is required
What This Role Is Not
* Not an internal reporting or dashboard-only role
* Not a software engineering role
* Not an academic or unpublished research position
* Not assessment-dr