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The Cato Institute seeks qualified candidates for the Associate Editor, Free Society Magazine position. Free Society is the Cato Institute’s flagship magazine that explores the ideas and principles that make a free, open, and prosperous society possible. We publish longform essays, deeply reported features, thought-provoking interviews, and commentary by both leading classical liberal thinkers and rising voices. Each issue combines intellectual depth with sharp design and compelling storytelling to tackle the most urgent debates in economics, politics, culture, and philosophy.

As part of Cato’s broader communications strategy, Free Society plays a central role in widening the audience for libertarian ideas and reaching people who may be encountering these principles for the first time. It is a growing publication with ambitious goals, and we are looking for someone who wants to help shape its future.

The Associate Editor will be a core member of a dynamic editorial team that is deeply integrated into Cato’s mission and communications strategy. Working closely with the Managing Editor and Editor in Chief, you will support every stage of the editorial and production process for both print and digital editions. This includes pitching and developing story ideas, commissioning writers, editing drafts, shaping the magazine’s narrative arc each quarter, coordinating layout and design, and helping drive the magazine’s promotional efforts.

This role is ideal for someone who loves ideas, believes in Cato’s mission, and wants to help bring the timeless principles of libertarianism to the widest possible audience. The Associate Editor will have substantial room for growth, with opportunities to take on greater ownership of story development, expand the magazine’s contributor network, and shape long-term editorial strategy.

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC. headquarters.

The projected salary range for this role is $45,000 - $70,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization – a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution – individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people; it is the indispensable framework for the future.

Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and refining story ideas, coordinating pitches, assigning articles, and editing drafts
• Manage editorial calendars, track drafts and revisions, and maintain efficient production workflows
• Collaborate closely with Cato’s design, marketing, and digital teams on layout, visuals, promotion, and distribution
• Help drive the magazine’s outreach strategy—amplifying stories, engaging new audiences, and strengthening reader relationships
• Contribute to long-term editorial planning and the evolution of the magazine as it grows

Education and Experience

• 3+ years of professional experience in journalism, editing, or publishing
• A Bachelor’s degree preferred
• A passion for classical liberal or libertarian ideas
• Experience with digital marketing or audience-growth strategies
• Experience working with CRM tools such as Salesforce is preferred
• Experience in newsrooms or similar fast-paced media environments is preferred

Skills

• Exceptional writing, editing, and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Curiosity, initiative, and a desire to grow within the role and the organization
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable interacting with individuals of various professional backgrounds and experience levels
• Composed and organized with a strong attention to detail, quality, and accuracy

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/ Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship