Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. They are seeking a Play Writer to lead and define the voice of Play, producing content for popular games and puzzles, as well as horoscopes and comics.
Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain the editorial voice and standards for Play, ensuring content is smart, approachable, inclusive and habit‑forming
- Own all editorial content around Play, including explanatory, promotional and feature storytelling tied to games, puzzles, horoscopes and comics
- Develop a clear point of view on how games & horoscopes fit into readers’ daily lives—and how USA TODAY can stand out in a crowded games landscape
- Write and edit a weekly Play newsletter, using it as a key audience-growth and engagement driver
- Write articles inspired by Play content areas, including behind-the-scenes looks, how-to guides, habit‑building stories, cultural tie‑ins and launches
- Craft on-platform copy, promotional units, push language and campaign messaging tied to Play products and launches
- Oversee editorial content tied to daily and monthly horoscopes and comics, including launch coverage and reader education and relevant stories
- Use audience data and performance insights to guide content decisions, growth strategies, drive loyalty, repeat usage and subscription value
- Collaborate with social, newsletter and growth teams to extend the reach of Play content across platforms
- Partner closely with the product team to inform and shape the overall games strategy, bringing editorial insight into product development and launches
- Help define how editorial, UX and content packaging work together to grow Play as a daily destination
- Participate in testing, iteration and launch planning for new games, features and experiences
Skills
- 5+ years of experience in digital journalism, editing or content strategy; games, lifestyle, entertainment or product-adjacent experience is a plus
- Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate utility-driven content into engaging storytelling
- Strong audience-first mindset, with experience using analytics to inform decisions
- Comfort collaborating with product, design and growth teams—and influencing strategy beyond traditional editorial lanes
- Creative, organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple content streams and deadlines
- Enthusiasm for puzzles, games, comics, horoscopes—or the curiosity to quickly develop deep fluency in those spaces
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