[Hiring] Social Media Contractor @Democracy Docket

Role Description

Social media is at the heart of Democracy Docket. It is critical to the day-to-day success of our growing impact as an independent, pro-democracy news outlet. From national press outlets to voting and election junkies to first-time voters, a broad coalition of stakeholders relies on our digital platforms as the go-to source for voting rights, elections and the courts.

Think of our social channels as a bridge connecting millions of people to the greatest issues facing our democracy. In other words, social is the main megaphone for all things Democracy Docket and the primary way we disseminate our content and expand our reach.

Democracy Docket is hiring for two part-time shifts to join our social media team and help cover our evening and weekend hours — a critical window for election and legal news, when court rulings, breaking developments and other fast-moving stories often land outside our core team's regular schedule. You'll monitor for breaking news, execute social-first content, and help make sure nothing important goes uncovered during your shift. The ideal candidate follows political news closely and understands how social media can be harnessed to expand reach, information and influence. You know how to capture a voice that is authoritative yet accessible, primarily for text-based platforms but visual as well.

This position will report to the Social Content & Strategy Manager and work closely with the news editors on shift. These are part-time, fully remote contractor positions running through the end of 2026.

• Shifts available:
• Weekday evenings: Wednesday–Friday, 3–9 p.m. ET (18 hours/week)
• Weekend days: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. ET (14 hours/week) — see separate job listing to apply
• You may be asked to occasionally shift or expand hours around a major news cycle.

Qualifications

• 3-4 years of professional experience creating social content for professional social channels, ideally for a media, news, or advocacy organization.
• Political fluency rooted in a strong understanding of voting rights, elections and democratic institutions.
• Strong writing skills with a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to write clear, concise and compelling copy for social audiences under tight deadlines.
• Native understanding of social platforms including Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, and Bluesky. Familiarity with social media scheduling tools, Canva and Reddit is a plus.
• Comfortable working independently during evening and weekend hours with minimal oversight.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with the flexibility to shift focus quickly in response to breaking news or emerging issues.

Requirements

• Monitor Slack and the news cycle during your shift for litigation updates, breaking voting and election news, legislation, and other relevant, significant events.
• Execute Democracy Docket’s social media strategy for rapid response and breaking news content across assigned platforms.
• Write clear, accurate social copy that translates legal and court developments into plain language.
• Flag anything you're unsure about and hand off clearly to the next shift or the core team.
• Support basic community management, like monitoring replies and comments during your shift.
• Follow brand and editorial guidelines.

Benefits

• Rate: $35/hr