WSJ seeks deputy coverage chief for speed and trending team

The Wall Street Journal is looking for an experienced journalist to serve as a deputy on our breaking-news team. This group at the heart of the newsroom is responsible for being the first word on many of the most important stories of the day, writing with speed, precision and authority across subject areas.

As deputy chief of this team, you will need to exercise keen judgment in a hyper-competitive digital news environment. Driven by the Journal’s coverage priorities and audience data, you will help lead a group of reporters and editors with a focus on delivering the timely news our readers need, optimized for our online platforms. The team’s breaking news remit will range widely across subjects, from business to general news around the country and beyond. The team will operate in close coordination with other reporting groups across the Journal, often kicking off coverage before passing the baton.

In addition to breaking news, this team will look for smart opportunities to join the conversation on other trending stories and topics.

You should be a news omnivore who is able to keep tabs on the competition while ensuring the Journal leads the pack. Collaboration is key: you will work closely with other coverage leaders across the Journal, as well as colleagues on our digital platforms.

Data will be a central tool, both in helping to guide coverage decisions and to monitor the success of our efforts. We will count on this team to be aggressive in seeking opportunities to join the digital conversation, driving a significant expansion in our daily coverage.

You will report to the Speed & Trending Coverage Chief. While you will likely start the job working remotely, you will eventually be based in our New York office.

You will:

• Serve as deputy on a team of breaking-news reporters and editors, stepping in when the chief is elsewhere and handing work easily back and forth with the chief
• Work closely with the Speed & Trending Coverage Chief, the Chief News Editor, other coverage leaders, SEO editors, Strategy editors and our platform teams
• Use data to help inform coverage decisions and evaluate our success
• Lead with empathy, both for our audience and your team members. You will be eager to understand the perspectives of our diverse audience, and you will help your direct reports produce their very best work and support their career development.
• Display commitment to digital best practices and continuous improvement as we work together to refine the content package and publishing expectations, meet KPIs and give our audience the content they want and need.
• Assign and direct the work of the team on quality and presentation of time-sensitive coverage.
• Work with the Speed & Trending chief to track developing stories drawing interest online and find WSJ angles

You have:

• Excellent news judgment and editing chops
• Strong operational background in digital publishing, including experience with a relevant CMS and a good working understanding of how to apply SEO and audience data to coverage decisions
• Experience working in a fast-paced news environment and collaborating across teams
• Deep appreciation of and facility with audience data
• A thorough understanding of the brand values and mission of The Wall Street Journal and how our journalism should be selected, executed and presented in line with those values.
• 8+ years of experience as a news editor

To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter explaining how you would approach the job and work samples.

To apply, go here.