Geographic clarity is coming to RWJ listings.

I want to share an important update on something I’ve been actively working on behind the scenes for the directory.

One of the biggest ongoing challenges in remote writing work listings is that the word “remote” doesn’t always mean the same thing.

In practice, it can mean very different things depending on the company. Some roles are truly open to writers anywhere in the world. Others are remote in name only but still restricted to the US, specific regions, or narrow time zones. That distinction matters especially when you’re applying from outside the dominant hiring markets.

To reduce that confusion, I’m building a new categorization system for RWJ that brings much more geographic clarity to every listing.

You should be able to see, at a glance, what kind of access a role actually offers. Not just “remote,” but what kind of remote.

Going forward, listings will be more clearly labeled as:

• Remote (US-only)

• Remote (region/time-zone restricted)

• Remote (open globally/anywhere in the world)

This is a shift toward more precision and fewer assumptions. It’s about making it easier to quickly understand whether a role is genuinely accessible to you before you invest time applying.

It also reflects something I care deeply about which is expanding truly location-independent opportunities while being honest about the limitations that still exist in how companies hire remotely.

This will involve going through the 1,500+ existing listings one by one, re-reading eligibility notes, checking fine print where needed, and re-categorizing each role under this new framework. It’s a fully manual process but one I’m committed to so there’s even less guesswork around what “remote” actually means in practice.

As I roll this out, I’ll continue refining the system and sharing updates along the way.

Thanks for being here and for engaging with this work as it evolves.

Toward greater clarity,

Melissa Tripp, Founder of RWJ

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