Play Writer

Job Title: Play Writer 

Location: New York preferred; remote considered in all states except Alaska, Hawaii or Wyoming

Reports to: Special Projects Editor, Entertainment 

Overview 

PLAY is USA TODAY’s hub for interactive entertainment, bringing together crosswords, games, puzzles, horoscopes, and comics in one unified experience. It is designed as a daily-use destination that encourages repeat engagement and habit-building across a broad audience. 

USA TODAY is seeking a Play writer to lead and define the voice of Play, our fast-growing games and puzzles destination. This staffer will own the editorial vision for Play—producing content tied to our most popular games—including the USA TODAY Crossword, Sudoku, Quick Cross,  
Circuits and more—as well as daily and monthly horoscopes and comics.  

This role sits at the intersection of editorial, audience growth and product strategy. The ideal candidate is a strong writer and editor with sharp editorial instincts and a passion for building daily habits with readers. They will craft compelling storytelling around games and puzzles, write and edit promotional and explanatory content, lead a weekly Play newsletter, write stories around horoscopes and comic releases, and work closely with product, growth and design teams to help 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. 

Requirements: 

• 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. 

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order: 

1. Your resume – one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role. 

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration. 

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The annualized base salary for this role will range between $53,000 and $82,813. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.