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Video Correspondent
Location: New York
MI is seeking a charismatic, creative, and highly entrepreneurial Video Correspondent to become one of the organization’s most visible digital personalities. The correspondent will appear in original videos explaining and commenting on the ideas, policies, and cultural debates shaping American life.
This is a camera-first role. The ideal candidate is a compelling communicator who is comfortable performing, interviewing, improvising, and speaking directly to an online audience. Extensive policy experience is not required, but intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and the ability to master new subjects quickly are essential.
The correspondent will work with MI’s scholars and production team while also independently conceiving, recording, and publishing original content. We are looking for a self-starter who follows political and cultural conversations closely, recognizes promising ideas before they become conventional, and has the confidence to turn those ideas into distinctive content.
Production support will be available, but the correspondent should be comfortable working independently—including shooting and editing videos in CapCut, Final Cut Pro, or similar software. Successful candidates will have the energy and ambition of an in-house creator, not simply waiting for scripts and assignments.
Qualifications
● Exceptional fluency, confidence, and presence on camera
● Outstanding verbal communication and storytelling skills
● A distinctive personality and a natural ability to hold an audience’s attention
● Intellectual curiosity and the ability to become conversant in unfamiliar policy subjects quickly
● Strong knowledge of social media culture, political discourse, and current online trends
● Creativity, initiative, and a demonstrated ability to generate and execute original ideas
● Comfort working independently and producing content on a rapid schedule
● Basic proficiency with tools such as CapCut, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, or similar software—or a strong willingness to learn
● Sound editorial judgment and enthusiasm for MI’s mission
● Experience in acting, broadcasting, journalism, comedy, podcasting, public speaking, or digital media is welcome but not required
● Experience building a personal audience through original, personality-driven social content is a significant plus
Responsibilities
● Serve as an on-camera host and correspondent for MI’s original digital programming
● Create short-form videos explaining policy ideas and responding to current political, cultural, and economic debates
● Develop a recognizable on-camera voice and help expand MI’s audience across social platforms
● Pitch original concepts, recurring formats, interviews, field pieces, and timely responses to breaking conversations
● Translate complex research and policy arguments into clear, accessible, and entertaining content
● Collaborate with MI scholars and producers to develop scripts, questions, treatments, and story ideas
● Conduct interviews and appear in studio, field, podcast, and event programming
● Independently record and edit timely content when appropriate
● Follow emerging online discussions, creators, formats, memes, and cultural trends
● Engage with audience feedback and use performance data to improve future content
● Represent MI’s brand and ideas with confidence, warmth, intelligence, and good judgment
Salary
$70,000 - $110,000 per salary
Benefits
MI offers generous benefits, including a hybrid work environment, four weeks paid vacation, a Flexible Fridays program, paid paternity/maternity leave, medical and dental coverage, medical and dependent care FSA, mental health benefits, remote medicine, paid company cell phone, life insurance, and a 401(k) with a company-funded match. MI staff also benefit from the opportunity to collaborate and socialize with prominent scholars in our policy space. Applications must include a portfolio/reel of your work, or it will NOT be considered.
Skills Required
- Exceptional fluency, confidence, and presence on camera
- Outstanding verbal communication and storytelling skills
- Distinctive personality and ability to hold an audience's attention
- Intellectual curiosity and ability to become conversant in unfamiliar policy subjects quickly
- Strong knowledge of social media culture, political discourse, and current online trends
- Creativity, initiative, and demonstrated ability to generate and execute original ideas
- Comfort working independently and producing content on a rapid schedule
- Basic proficiency with CapCut, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, or similar software, or willingness to learn
- Sound editorial judgment and enthusiasm for the organization's mission
- Experience in acting, broadcasting, journalism, comedy, podcasting, public speaking, or digital media
- Experience building a personal audience through original, personality-driven social content
- Portfolio or reel of work
What We Do
The Manhattan Institute is a community of scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders dedicated to advancing opportunity, individual liberty, and the rule of law in America and its great cities.
