Volunteer Contributor/ Reporter

Watch Duty is a non-partisan, non-profit, and non-government organization focused on disseminating public-safety information in real time from verified sources. Our mission is to publish only the facts that provide true situational awareness in case of emergency. We are always looking for passionate individuals—both volunteers and professionals—to help us build our platform and expand our reach to keep communities safe.

Volunteer Remote Position

Watch Duty is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that provides real-time public-safety information during emergencies. Our mission is to publish verified, factual information that gives communities true situational awareness when it matters most. Volunteers are central to this work.

About the role

Volunteer Contributors and Reporters help gather, verify, and synthesize information related to active wildfires. This includes monitoring multiple sources such as scanner traffic, fire cameras, official agency updates, user-submitted intel, and automated detections within Watch Duty.

Working alongside other reporters in real time, you’ll help confirm details and craft clear, accurate alerts that reach millions of people during critical moments. Training, guidelines, and ongoing support are provided , and most volunteers grow into the role over time.

What we’re looking for

A strong sense of responsibility and community service

The ability to remain calm, focused, and detail-oriented in fast-moving situations

Comfort collaborating in real time via Slack (our internal messaging platform)

Willingness to learn and follow structured reporting guidelines

Helpful experience (not required)

Prior experience listening to or monitoring emergency communications

Background in fire, dispatch, law enforcement, or emergency response

Experience sharing time-sensitive information with a public audience (e.g., social media, community groups)

Familiarity with radio scanners, mapping tools, or technical systems

FEMA ICS Courses

Willingness to assist with coverage beyond your immediate local area when needed

Basic comfort with technology, including using email, Slack, and web-based tools, as well as the ability to follow login and setup instructions independently.

Most volunteers contribute a few hours per week, with flexibility depending on availability and incident activity.

If you apply, please add [email protected] to your spam filter, to ensure you receive messages from us about scheduling interviews and other follow up.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Watch Duty is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization.