Copy and research editor

This assignment posting is for an Agency Worker opportunity with People Inc. The Agency Worker is paid by a staffing agency employer. Agency Workers will receive a W2 from the staffing agency reporting their earnings for tax purposes.

Copy and Research Editor

TRAVEL + LEISURE inspires and empowers the world’s most curious and passionate travelers to travel more—and travel better. We help elevate reader's experiences through content and tools that aid in the entire journey, from dreaming to planning to booking to traveling.

We are seeking a meticulous and experienced Freelance Copy and Research Editor to join our print editorial team. In this role, you’ll work closely with our copy and research staffers to uphold the magazine’s standards for high-quality and accurate prose.

Assignment Details:

30-40 hours a week

Start date: 1/6/2026

End date: 6 months with a preference to extend

Hourly Rate: $30-$35

Location: Hybrid - In NY office three days per week

Assignment Responsibilities:

Copy editing (60% of the role, to be done alongside the staff copy editor)

• Review text at multiple stages of production, from early manuscripts through final checks
• Flag and resolve issues related to sense, usage, grammar, spelling, and inconsistencies
• Finesse text to conform with Travel + Leisure’s style and voice 
• Collaborate with article editors and designers to maintain quality and accuracy under tight deadlines

Fact checking (40% of the role, under the supervision of the senior research editor)

• Fact-check one 3,000-word feature story and several shorter pieces for each issue (11/year)
• Stories will contain complex historical, geographical, and cultural details; must be able to quickly sift through reporters’ backup material for confirmations and be resourceful in finding supplemental primary sources as necessary
• Maintain the delicate balance between accuracy and meeting deadlines as part of the overall editorial workflow

Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism/communications, marketing, English or related field, or equivalent work experience 
• Minimum 2 years experience copy editing consumer-facing editorial content
• Strong editing skills, with the ability to capture and effectively convey brand voice
• Time-management skills that allow for splitting attention among multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to distinguish trusted sources from dubious sources
• A passion for travel
• A collaborative and communicative spirit
• Familiarity with, and interest in, foreign languages and food

People Inc. is the largest print and digital publisher in America. Nearly 200 million people trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action, and find inspiration. People Inc.'s over 40 iconic brands include PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Verywell, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Allrecipes, REAL SIMPLE, Investopedia, and Southern Living.

Please be aware of fraudulent recruiters offering opportunities at People Inc. If you are in conversations about a job opportunity and wish to confirm its validity, please reach out directly to [email protected].