The assistant breaking news editor/reporter is a player/coach position, keeping our readers up to date on breaking news by directing the night/weekend reporter and writing stories.
This person should be cool under pressure, able to edit and coach well and write fast and accurately.
The position requires initiative, accuracy, and urgency. It also demands strong news judgment and the ability to find and identify stories that are important and influential and reflect the community through the inclusion of a variety of voices.
Typical Job Duties:
- About 60-70% of your time will likely be dedicated to editing responsibilities. About 30-40% is dedicated to reporting responsibilities.
- Vets and assigns story ideas, using SEO, trends, metrics and reader interest as a guide.
- Creates and instills a sense of urgency, especially in competitive situations.
- Edits copy from breaking news team.
- Coaches reporters to develop their reporting and writing skills
- Communicates with producers about breaking news plans.
- Covers major breaking news of importance to key audiences.
- Produces enterprise follow-ups (context, what it means, what’s next, etc.) to breaking stories.
- Finds and reports stories focused on topics of interest to our readers and subscribers.
- Reports to Breaking News Editor.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Initiative, accuracy, urgency.
- Effective communicator; able to get along with different personalities.
- Multi-task and excel under deadline pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
- Work collaboratively within a cross-functional environment.
- Must embrace peer-to-peer feedback and training.
- Writing, spelling, grammar, AP style.
- Coaching.
- Organizational skills.
- Ability to talk with people from a variety of backgrounds and in difficult circumstances.
- Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
- Experience using social media accounts to identify and advance stories.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Three-five years experience as a reporter or editor.
- This position involves working evenings and weekends and occasional holidays.
- Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check.
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
- Your resume – one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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