[Remote] Play Writer

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 tied to popular games, horoscopes, and comics while collaborating with various teams to shape the future of USA TODAY’s games ecosystem.

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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