Backpack Journalist

Description

Connect for Health Colorado has an excellent opportunity for a Backpack Journalist

Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO) is a public, nonprofit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance marketplace. Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families, and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help, and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert help from a statewide network of certified insurance Brokers and community-based Assisters. Our mission is to increase access, affordability, and choice for individuals and small employers purchasing health insurance in Colorado. For more information, visit ConnectforHealthCO.com

Position Summary:

The Backpack Journalist reports to the Senior Manager, Marketing, and is responsible for independently researching, producing, and publishing compelling multimedia stories about Connect for Health Colorado, its customers, partners, employees, programs, and statewide impact.

Operating as a mobile, self-contained content producer, the Backpack Journalist combines the responsibilities of a reporter, interviewer, writer, photographer, videographer, audio producer, and digital editor. The position manages the full storytelling process — from identifying and researching an idea through field production, editing, factchecking, publishing, and distribution across digital channels.

The Backpack Journalist will travel throughout Colorado to document authentic customer and community experiences, partner initiatives, enrollment activities, public events, and emerging issues affecting access to health coverage. Using portable production equipment, the position will capture high-quality video, photography, interviews, natural sound, and written material without relying on a traditional production crew.

The ideal candidate is a resourceful and ethical journalist who can translate complex health insurance and public-policy topics into clear, accurate, human-centered stories. They are comfortable working independently in unpredictable field environments while collaborating closely with Communications, Marketing, Policy, Operations, Legal, Customer Experience, and community partners.

Position Responsibilities

• Research, identify, pitch, and develop original story ideas that advance Connect for Health Colorado’s mission, organizational priorities, and communications strategy.
• Independently manage multimedia assignments from initial concept through publication, including research, production planning, scheduling, interviewing, field reporting, writing, recording, editing, factchecking, and distribution.
• Conduct thoughtful interviews with customers, community members, Brokers, Assisters, health care professionals, organizational leaders, policymakers, subject-matter experts, and other stakeholders.
• Capture professional-quality video, photography, interviews, voiceovers, and natural sound using portable cameras, mobile devices, microphones, lighting, stabilizers, audio recorders, and related field-production equipment.
• Write and edit scripts, articles, profiles, captions, video descriptions, social media copy, and other editorial content that supports multimedia storytelling.
• Edit video, photography, and audio using professional desktop or mobile production software, integrating interviews, visuals, natural sound, licensed music, graphics, and narration into cohesive stories for digital distribution.
• Produce and publish content in multiple formats and lengths for the Connect for Health Colorado website, social media, email communications, presentations, partner networks, media outreach, and internal communications. 
• Repurpose long-form stories into short-form videos, social media clips, photographs, written profiles, audio segments, and other reusable content assets.
• Translate health insurance concepts, policy developments, enrollment information, and organizational initiatives into clear, accurate, and audience-friendly stories.
• Follow journalistic and organizational standards related to accuracy, fairness, transparency, attribution, corrections, privacy, informed consent, conflicts of interest, and responsible interviewing.
• Secure appropriate releases, permissions, and consent from interview subjects and property owners before recording or publishing content.
• Coordinate with Legal, Policy, Compliance, Communications, and other internal teams when stories involve sensitive, regulated, confidential, or rapidly changing information.
• Apply accessibility standards to multimedia content, including captions, transcripts, alternative text, readable graphics, and plain language.

Requirements

• Colorado resident.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, digital media, film, broadcasting, multimedia production, or a related field; equivalent professional experience and a strong multimedia portfolio may be considered.
• Must be able to show work samples via an online reel.
• Five or more years of professional experience in journalism, multimedia storytelling, documentary production, digital communications, video production, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience independently producing stories from initial concept through final publication.
• Professional portfolio demonstrating strong reporting, interviewing, writing, videography, photography, audio recording, and editing capabilities.
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify compelling stories that connect individual experiences to broader organizational, community, or public-policy issues.
• Excellent writing, editing, interviewing, fact-checking, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex policy, regulatory, technical, or health insurance information in clear and accessible language without sacrificing accuracy.
• Proficiency operating portable digital cameras, smartphones, lenses, tripods, stabilizers, external microphones, audio recorders, headphones, and compact lighting equipment.
• Experience using professional video and audio editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or comparable platforms.
• Experience using photography and graphic-production tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Canva, or comparable platforms.
• Ability to capture usable video, audio, and photography under varied field conditions with limited time, equipment, or production support.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, production schedules, interview logistics, travel arrangements, equipment needs, editing deadlines, and stakeholder reviews simultaneously.
• Ability to travel throughout Colorado to field assignments, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment:

• Currently working remotely.
• The Connect for Health Colorado office is in the North Tech Center area of Denver, near the intersection of I-25 and I-225.
• The work schedule may include some non-traditional hours, weekends, and evening events.
• Core office hours are typically 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. with some flexibility.

Total Compensation:

Connect for Health Colorado offers a competitive benefits package. Employees are offered a robust benefits package and may elect from various offerings to tailor a package best suited to their individual needs. Connect for Health Colorado employees are eligible to participate in the organization’s 403(b) plan and are additionally provided with paid time off, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance.   The salary of this position is $64,890 - $84,460 per year.  

To Apply: 

Please apply on our Career page at https://connectforhealthco.com/about-us/employment/. Include a link to your digital reel or resume tape with your resume. 

Connect for Health Colorado is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). Connect for Health Colorado may, at its discretion, conduct a background check on any workforce member and/or require job candidates to successfully complete a background check as a condition of employment.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 30 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants. *Post date: 09/14/2026