Military & Defense Reporting Fellow (January 2025)

Business Insider is hiring a fellow to join our military and defense team to tell fascinating stories about the US armed forces and foreign militaries, as well as report on developments in key conflicts and their global ramifications.

Business Insider is for people who are driven, optimistic and always looking forward. Our mission is to inspire action through thought-provoking stories. We tell our audience what they want and need to know to improve their lives and the world with storytelling that is accessible, smart, sometimes unexpected, and always helpful. Our team members embody and uphold Business Insider’s three core values: we are all one team, we are effective, and we strive to get better every day.

The Business Insider Fellowship Program is for early career journalists who want to spend six months learning from a newsroom full of passionate, dedicated journalists. Fellows are assigned to teams and become experts in digital storytelling. They produce real work that is distributed to our audience of millions, and by the end of six months, they are prepared for the next phase of their journalism careers. This paid role requires you to work for 40 hours a week and can be fully remote.

Applications close on October 18.

The Role & Team:

As a military and defense fellow, you will be expected to cover daily news about war, global tensions, weaponry, people, and controversies, among other important issues. You will quickly produce written and visual features on military affairs that are relevant and accessible to Business Insider’s unique audience.

This role on the military and defense desk reports directly to the section editor. Business Insider is a flexible workplace when it comes to remote work. We have offices in New York, but for this position, relatively close proximity to Washington, DC, or US military installations is a plus. All candidates, however, are encouraged to apply regardless of location.

This role reports directly to the senior editor on the Military & Defense desk. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Learn from Business Insider reporters and editors and key training programs on how to effectively tell a variety of stories.
• Monitor developments within the military and defense space and find news and stories of interest to Business Insider readers.
• Connect with and interview members of the military, veterans, government officials, and experts.
• Tell compelling stories about topics like military aviation, naval warfare, and great-power competition.

As a Business Insider defense fellow, you’ll be writing stories like these:

• Former TOPGUN instructor breaks down the leaked video of a F-35 crashing on the deck of a US Navy aircraft carrier
• Every piece of gear in a Navy recruit's ditty box
• What US Navy recruits go through in their 10-week boot camp
• 'The whole world' is racing to buy the drones that have helped Ukrainians obliterate Russian tanks and missile launchers, their designer says
• What Army soldiers go through on their first day of basic training
• US Air Force test shows the A-10 Warthog can take out modern tanks with armor improvements with its powerful cannon
• The world's largest cargo aircraft was reportedly destroyed in Ukraine during a Russian attack. Take a look at the plane, which was big enough to carry 50 cars.
• The US Navy is going to fish a wrecked F-35 out of the South China Sea. Here's how it's likely to get its stealth jet back.

The ideal candidate has:

• Excellent news judgment and a keen sense of how to get ahead of the curve on the personalities, power struggles, and key trends in military and defense news
• The ability to spot compelling news and pitch angles that will set BI’s coverage apart
• Interest in and familiarity with open-source intelligence
• Creativity and strong communication skills to report ambitious projects
• A self-starter attitude and strong organizational skills
• A knowledge of social media and SEO
• A desire to work as part of a global team in a fast-paced news environment

Additionally, all of our editorial fellows should have:

• A passion for digital storytelling and voracious reading habits
• Familiarity with digital and social media
• The ability to work quickly and collaboratively with a fast-paced team
• Proofreading and copyediting skills
• A love of Business Insider and our mission to serve readers with the information and inspiration they need in a way that’s accurate, fair, fast, and fun

Salary & Benefits:

• Fellows are paid $20 per hour (overtime when needed and approved)
• PTO and paid holidays
• Eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits on 91st day of employment

Please apply with a resume and cover letter and specify why you're interested in working on this team. If you’d like some tips, check out our best practices guide.

Business Insider is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and, when making employment decisions, does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality or national origin, religion, disability, familial status, and military or veteran status. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented groups to apply.