Our Company, Our Mission

We live in an age of rampant misinformation and polarization. Problems compounded by media companies who slice and dice the American public into ever-smaller ideological camps, driving us apart, and robbing us of a shared national story and dialogue. Companies too often obsessed with turning a profit, defending party orthodoxy, or simply avoiding controversy.

Lost Debate is a non-profit media company founded to break from that mold. We believe the most important conversations in society happen in the dark corners of the Internet—on platforms dominated by political arsonists, nihilists, and extremists. Our mission is to infuse more empathy, nuance, and objectivity into those conversations.

Through originally produced podcasts, short form videos, written commentary, and investigative journalism, we will build fresh narratives — not for the sake of being different but for the sake of seeing the unseen and speaking their unspoken truths. Truths that matter to the most vulnerable members of our society.

We launched in 2021 with over $7 million in funding under the leadership of founder and CEO Ravi Gupta.

The Role 

Lost Debate is seeking a Chief Content Officer (CCO) to oversee the creation and distribution of a company’s content, including video, audio, and written materials. This includes managing a team of producers, writers, and other staff, as well as working with external partners and stakeholders to ensure that the company’s shows are of high quality and align with the company’s overall goals and objectives. The CCO will also be involved in developing strategies for distributing and promoting the company’s shows, as well as identifying new opportunities for growth and expansion. In addition to having strong leadership and management skills, the CCO should have a deep understanding of the podcasting and overall digital media industry and be able to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the field.

What You’ll Do

• Advance Lost Debate’s mission by managing production of content in all mediums.
• Work closely with the CEO to advance the company’s strategic priorities. 
• Lead Lost Debate’s podcast and YouTube portfolio, steering the editorial and creative direction while supporting the production teams.
• Lead new show development and identify opportunities for talent and show acquisition.
• Oversee the company’s social media portfolio. This includes identifying new content and platform innovations, the continued cultivation of a creator fund (stipends for part-time social contributors), and support of paid social.
• Ensure content meets the highest production values and all journalistic and legal standards are followed.
• Develop launch strategies for new shows and content to ensure the highest possible impact at release.
• Cultivate a social media presence that will grow a community of political eclectics and drive discussion and engagement about Lost Debate’s content.
• Develop a short and long-term talent acquisition pipeline for in-house and external production and talent roles.
• Manage content leaders, including Senior Producers and Social Media Managers. Facilitate regular feedback cycles and foster areas for growth and development.
• Support the development and maintenance of budgets and production calendars that accurately reflect the needs of various shows and content initiatives.
• Contribute to Lost Debate’s culture and provide leadership and support across the company.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong belief in Lost Debate’s values. 
• A heterodox set of views, a thick skin for robust debate and disagreement, and a burning curiosity.
• Impeccable editorial judgment and written and oral communication skills, as demonstrated by a portfolio accumulated over many years of work in traditional and/or digital media.
• Understanding of industry trends, ethical journalism, and storytelling techniques with the passion to drive innovation.
• A successful track record of leading and managing creative teams to achieve excellent results.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; the capability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Versatility, flexibility, and willingness to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Avid podcast consumer with a passion for news, current affairs, pop culture, and education.
• An understanding of Lost Debate’s audience and a fierce commitment to the company’s mission.

The salary for this role is $250,000, with a preference for candidates based in New York City (though we’d consider strong applicants who reside elsewhere). 

To apply, send a resume and short email explaining your interest in the position to CCO@lostdebate.com.

The Role:

Lost Debate seeks to hire a Podcast Producer who will oversee the audio production of select shows in the Lost Debate network and support new show development. The ideal candidate is an established Podcast Producer with a passion for Lost Debate’s mission and a track record of excellence in audio journalism.

Responsibilities:

• Support the creation of A+ narrative-style and interview-style podcasts that align with Lost Debate’s vision and mission.
• Own the production process from start to finish on assigned programs, producing an average of two weekly shows and two special projects at a time.
• Collaborate with editorial teams and hosts to develop divisions of responsibility, reporting plans, creative development, and scripts.
• Coordinate with other members of the Lost Debate team to maximize the show’s audience by supporting advertisement operations and data analysis.
• Provide editing and production support to additional Lost Debate programs as needed.
• Contribute to Lost Debate’s culture and provide additional support as needed across the company.

Qualifications: 

• Alignment with Lost Debate’s values and beliefs.
• A heterodox set of views, a thick skin for robust debate and disagreement, and a burning curiosity.
• Skilled at providing regular, precise, and actionable feedback to a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to consistently meet or exceed deadlines.
• Self starter and quick learner who will take initiative and finish tasks to completion. 
• 3+ years of experience in audio editing and production.

This position is based in New York, NY, and offers a starting salary of $90K + benefits.

To apply, send a cover letter, portfolio, and resume to jobs@lostdebate.com.

The Role:

Lost Debate seeks to hire an Associate Researcher to support production of Lost Debate’s flagship show. The ideal candidate is an established researcher and copywriter with a deep understanding of current social and cultural trends in news and media.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor and find trending and unique stories in news, culture, and social media.
• Research and fact-check segments for Lost Debate’s bi-weekly flagship show.
• Provide fact-checking assistance across Lost Debate’s slate of shows.
• Produce weekly data reports and analysis across Lost Debate’s slate of shows and social media platforms.

Qualifications: 

• Alignment with Lost Debate’s values and beliefs.
• A heterodox set of views, a thick skin for robust debate and disagreement, and a burning curiosity.
• A+ writer and researcher who can find unique and untold stories.
• A news and ideas obsessive who enjoys engaging with the issues of the day. 
• Self starter and quick learner who will take initiative and finish tasks to completion.
• Ideally 2+ years of journalism experience.  

This position is based in New York, NY, and offers a starting salary of $80K + benefits.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to jobs@lostdebate.com.