Media, Bias and Algorithms Reporter

About this role:

SAN is hiring a Media, Bias and Algorithms Reporter to investigate how information is built, distributed, distorted and amplified in the digital age – and to explain it with clarity, not cynicism. This is not a traditional media‑industry beat. You won’t often cover newsroom shuffles or corporate M&A. You’ll probe the deeper machinery of the modern information environment: the recommendation engines behind what people see, the structural incentives that create bias (intentional or not), the platforms that mediate nearly every public conversation, and the invisible feedback loops that shape how society understands current events.

People increasingly experience the world through systems they don’t control and can barely see. Audiences know bias exists, but most have no way of understanding how it works or why narratives diverge so dramatically across outlets and platforms. Your reporting will give them that power. You’ll decode competing narratives, reveal blind spots in media framing, contextualize how algorithms elevate or suppress certain stories, and help audiences understand why people can see the same event as two different realities.

This beat taps directly into one of the country’s most widespread frustrations: navigating a chaotic information landscape where everyone senses distortion, but few understand its mechanics. It is central to SAN’s mission and a clear opportunity for differentiation, filling a gap the broader media rarely covers with depth or transparency. Your work will provide clarity where there is confusion, depth where there is noise, and context where there is polarization. If you want to help audiences see the whole board – not just the headlines – this is the beat for you.

Responsibilities:

• Explain the information ecosystem. Report how algorithms, platforms, search engines, news feeds, creators and publishers shape public perception, often in ways even they don’t fully understand.
• Decode bias and information flow. Track where narratives originate, why they spread, who benefits and what gets lost along the way.
• Investigate system design. Analyze how recommendation systems, ranking mechanisms, moderation policies and optimization goals influence what information rises to the top.
• Cover daily news with clarity and urgency. Produce quick‑turn analyses and explainers when narratives are forming; identify patterns early and contextualize them for a general audience.
• Create human‑centered stories. Connect systemic dynamics to real people – voters, parents, creators and communities – showing tangible impacts and tradeoffs.
• Demystify complexity. Make technical, structural and abstract concepts understandable without oversimplifying using plain language, sharp framing and transparent sourcing.
• Collaborate across formats. Work with visual, audio and video teams to turn reporting into compelling explainers, short documentaries, interactives and social‑native pieces.
• Use rigorous, transparent methods. Where appropriate, design lightweight tests, audits or replicable analyses; publish methodology boxes that explain what you did and what the limits are.
• Build a diverse source network. Develop relationships across platforms, search, trust & safety, recommendation, UX, policy, academia, creators and advocacy groups to stay ahead of emerging dynamics.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of reporting experience spanning technology, media, platforms, digital culture, politics or information systems.
• A reporter’s instinct for pattern‑spotting, source‑building and asking questions that get to the structural “why,” not just the surface “what.”
• Working understanding of how systems like TikTok, YouTube, Google Search, Meta’s feeds, and X/Twitter surface and prioritize content (you don’t need to be an engineer, but you should understand the mechanics and incentives).
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex or technical topics into clear, trustworthy journalism for a general audience.
• Comfort with ambiguity and partial visibility; experience piecing together truth via interviews, documents, research, experiments and creative methodology.
• A track record of original, insightful reporting: features, investigations, data‑driven explainers and smart, quick‑turn analysis.
• Exceptional researching, writing and storytelling skills; skilled in AP Style.
• Knowledge of SEO and experience with CMS (e.g., WordPress) and analytics tools.
• Commitment to accuracy, clarity, and unbiased storytelling; meticulous about verification and transparency.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple assignments across formats and platforms.
• Experience with multimedia or cross‑platform journalism, or a strong willingness to learn.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience covering tech companies, platforms or digital culture.
• Familiarity with data journalism techniques (Excel/Sheets; comfort with basic scraping or Python/R is a plus but not required).
• Understanding of audience behavior, recommendation dynamics or media studies.
• Track record of spotting emerging narratives before they reach the mainstream.
• Experience with trust & safety, integrity or platform policy beats.

Compensation & Benefits:

• The salary range for this position is $90,000-$120,000.
• Straight Arrow News offers comprehensive health and wellness coverage that ensures our employees have the care and coverage they need to stay healthy, build current and future financial security and maintain work-life balance. All full-time employees and their dependents are eligible to enroll in our benefits. That includes generous paid time off, paid holidays and floating holidays; health coverage, vision and dental plans; retirement plans like the company's 401(k) plan with company match; and more.