Wired seeks a features editor

WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change to global security, from pandemic preparedness to the future of democracy, and tell stories of the people trying to solve these challenges and the role science and technology can play—for good or ill. WIRED reaches more than 30 million people each month through WIRED.com, our digital edition, the magazine, social media, and live events.

Features Editor, WIRED 

It’s bern a big year for WIRED. From DOGE reporting to buzzy covers, WIRED’s work reflects this historic moment in tech, politics, and so much more. As WIRED grows and becomes more global, we are investing further in creative storytelling—everything from interactives to photo essays to print-digital packages to the hallmark of WIRED’s features department, the deeply reported longform story. We are looking to add to our team of full-time editors assigning and editing these ambitious projects.

Some of these stories recount how entrepreneurs, activists, and leaders of all stripes are tackling humanity’s biggest challenges. Others are simply extraordinary tales—mysteries, crime sagas, fun romps. All illuminate the ways in which science and technology are changing business, politics, culture, society, and human nature itself. WIRED makes stories to be enjoyed across platforms, and features editors should have thoughts on how hefty ideas and big narratives can exist wherever audiences gather.

Even more important than having ideas is executing them. A WIRED features editor knows the difference between a topic and a story, can guide a writer in their reporting to bring out the most compelling characters and story elements, can imagine creative containers for big ideas, can spin up newsy features when the moment is right, is skilled at structuring longform narratives for maximum impact, and is a deft line editor with a love of elegant writing and zero tolerance for jargon. You will work with both WIRED staff writers and freelancers. In either case, you should be someone who finds joy in helping talented writers grow. You should be good at delivering clear, thorough, and empathetic feedback, be a font of ideas, and come with a roster of diverse and talented freelance and staff writers. At WIRED, we also have fun, and want work to be a place where that is possible. This is a Guild position based in New York City.

Responsibilities:

• Conceiving feature stories and evaluating feature pitches from freelance writers and staffers
• Assigning, tracking, and editing stories
• Overseeing (along with colleagues) at least two packages a year, in print and online.
• Recruiting freelance feature writers and helping staffers do their best features work
• Participating in brainstorms with other editors, bringing original ideas and helping fine-tune others. Features are not news but we aren’t always “counterprogamming”—ideally, we’re part of the zeitgeist
• Working closely with WIRED’s art, production, research, copy editing, and social teams

Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience with, and curiosity about, stories on how technology and science are affecting business, culture, politics, and more
• Demonstrated ability to turn feature story manuscripts into first-rate articles for a national audience
• At least five years experience in a newsroom or magazine as an editor
• Excellent skills in structuring narratives and line editing
• Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with a team of fact checkers, copy editors, designers, photo editors, digital producers, social media producers, and other story editors
• Facility with headlines, subheads, captions, and other elements of story building and promotion

The expected base salary range for this position is from $102,000 – $133,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.

This is a guild position.

To apply, go here.