Independent Contractor Video Editor Jobs in Washington

We're on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you'll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

The Washington Post Opinions section is seeking versatile video editors to edit podcast videos, interviews and social clips. As part of the Opinions multimedia team, they will take on a variety of tasks, including editing video podcasts; working with journalists and collaborators on original social video; and producing short-form clips for a soon-to-be-launched daily show.

We're looking for a skilled editor who can work quickly and cleanly - someone who can balance creator instincts with news judgment, working closely with seasoned journalists. They should be comfortable working independently and be able to manage multiple edits and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-moving news cycle.

The ideal candidate should have experience creating content designed for the internet, ideally at a new media or digital-first organization. They will have strong editorial instincts - especially around news, context and rapid-response editing - and a deep understanding of YouTube, Shorts, TikTok and Reels for pacing, hooks, captions and formatting. They will be well-versed in the current news-podcast ecosystem across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Patreon, and should understand the value of clips in fueling discovery, community and monetization.

• You want to help serious journalism win attention in social feeds. You can think like a creator but edit like a journalist.

• You understand the importance of packaging and pacing matter on video.

• You see podcasts and long-form interviews as raw material for daily audience growth.

• You thrive in small, high-output teams.

• You are comfortable in fast-moving environments and on deadline.

• Edit long-form podcasts, interviews, social shows and high-performing clips for YouTube, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, X and other social platforms.

• Own clip-farming workflows: identifying moments, shaping hooks, tightening pacing and packaging content for maximum reach.

• Design and execute motion elements - titles, lower thirds, light animations and visual emphasis - primarily in After Effects.

• Help translate dense or complex journalism into clear, creator-style video that performs on social while maintaining editorial integrity.

• Write platform-native headlines and captions that increase click-through, retention and sharing.

• Collaborate with producers, hosts, and social editors to align clips with daily news priorities and audience strategy.

• Edit both rapid-response news clips and evergreen content with long-tail potential.

• Manage YouTube Studio uploads, metadata, thumbnails, and publishing workflows.

• Track performance and iterate based on audience behavior and analytics.

• Maintain an organized archive of source footage, clips, templates, and motion assets.

• Occasionally support basic filming needs (in-studio or on-site): holding camera, framing shots, capturing clean audio, and handling simple lighting setups.

• 2+ years of professional video editing experience, with strong social examples. Preferably experience working at a new-media or digital-first media organization (not traditional broadcast).

• Primary editing experience in YouTube and social video - podcasts, interviews, social shows or creator-led formats.
  High proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Strong working knowledge of After Effects for motion graphics, text animation and visual polish.

• Experience designing thumbnails and social assets using Photoshop and/or Illustrator.

• Comfort managing YouTube Studio, metadata, titles, descriptions and thumbnails.

• Comfortable with basic camera operation, framing, and audio capture when needed. Experience filming on DSLR/mirrorless cameras or iPhones.

• Familiarity with analytics tools (YouTube Analytics, CrowdTangle, Sprout, etc.).

• Some exposure to AI tools is a plus.

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage

• Company-paid pension and 401(k) match

• Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave

• Nine paid holidays and two personal days

• 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent

• Robust mental health resources

• Backup care and caregiver concierge services

• Gender affirming services

• Pet insurance

• Free Post digital subscription

• Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

The salary range for this position is:

The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.