Investigative Journalist (Equity Pay Initially)

This role is compensated through founding equity in Aebly Media, with the transition to salaried pay as we scale. This is not a salaried position upfront — you’re joining as a founding contributor with real ownership in what you help build. About Aebly Media Aebly Media is a news network with an investigative core and a civic-tech engine, built to help people cut through the noise and know exactly where they stand. Every story opens with a question and arrives as named voices with their receipts — verified, sourced quotes you weigh for yourself, never outlet ratings that tell you who to trust. Readers vote on the real thing — congressional bills broken into plain-English provisions, executive orders, Supreme Court rulings, and their own district’s ballot — and every vote writes a personal civic compass that’s theirs alone. Through Witness, what people see becomes the news: anonymous tips that, once corroborated, our journalists investigate and publish. Founded in San Diego, Aebly is built on one idea: Comfort in your Convictions. The Role Witness is our tip line, rebuilt. People report what they saw, their identity is severed and vaulted on arrival, and when independent witnesses corroborate the same event it becomes a Signal our editors can pick up. That’s where you come in. We’re looking for an Investigative Journalist to take those Signals and chase down the truth — verifying claims, talking to sources, building the record, and publishing reporting that holds up to scrutiny. Nothing names a person or business until our reporting verifies it. This is source-driven, boots-on-the-ground journalism for people who believe the truth is worth digging for. What you’ll do Investigate Signals surfaced through Witness — corroborated reports from independent witnesses Verify claims, gather evidence, and separate what actually happened from rumor and noise Conduct interviews with witnesses, officials, and relevant sources Research public records, documents, and primary sources to build out the full story Write clear, factual, well-sourced investigative pieces that hold up to scrutiny Protect sources and handle sensitive and anonymous information responsibly and ethically — never naming a person or business until reporting verifies it Uphold Aebly’s editorial posture: ground every claim in verifiable fact and let the evidence speak Coordinate with the Editor in Chief and editorial team on assignment priorities and publication What we’re looking for A nose for the story and the persistence to chase it down Strong investigative instincts — rigorous about verifying, sourcing, and fact-checking Excellent writing skills with the ability to turn a tangle of facts into a clear, compelling narrative Comfortable interviewing sources, including reluctant or hostile ones Committed to accuracy, fairness, and journalistic ethics, especially around anonymous sources Able to work independently, manage assignments, and meet deadlines Helpful but not required Previous investigative, news, or field reporting experience Experience with public records requests, FOIA, document research, or data journalism A background in journalism, communications, or a related field Familiarity with media law, libel standards, and source protection Experience covering politics, local government, or community issues What’s in it for you A founding role on Witness — a genuinely new approach to community-driven investigative journalism Founding equity in Aebly Media with milestone-based vesting and growth prospects as we scale The freedom to chase real stories that matter, backed by a platform built on truth and transparency Close collaboration with editorial leadership as we define investigative reporting at Aebly If you believe the most important stories are the ones someone doesn’t want told, and you have the persistence to uncover them, apply now to join Aebly Media. This is a founding contributor role, not a salaried employee position. Compensation is initially through founding equity, with the expectation of transitioning to salaried compensation as the company scales. Specific equity terms are finalized individually in a written contributor agreement. This role is offered on an at-will basis and does not guarantee future salaried employment. Aebly Media is an equal opportunity employer.