WSJ seeks deputy editing chief

The Wall Street Journal seeks a dynamic leader and manager to assist the Editing Chief in running The Wall Street Journal’s fast-paced Publishing Desk, which has responsibility for editing content for all of the Journal’s platforms.

This editor sets and polices copy editing standards, organizes and schedules editors, advises on their edits, trains them as needed, tracks their progress and ensures the quality of their work.

This editor works closely with and supports the Senior Publishing Editors assigned to Core Coverage teams, further optimizing copy and presentation in conjunction with platform and audience teams.

Successful candidates must have impeccable news judgment and the ability to make quick decisions under deadline pressure to serve the Journal’s audience and newsroom. A broad understanding of the mechanics and the art of journalistic writing and editing is required.

Deep experience in digital journalism and publishing, plus an appreciation of modern and innovative storytelling techniques, is preferred.

Journalistic skills

• Exercises exceptional news judgment in editing and fast-paced publishing.
• Demonstrates mastery of the skills needed to sharply edit for grammar, style, sense, jargon, accuracy, structure, balance and fairness.
• Adept in basic numeracy and draws on a variety of general knowledge, confident in analyzing the data behind a story.
• Assigns and oversees editors’ work and helps them make progress and learn.
• Upholds Dow Jones standards and ethics.
• Understands WSJ’s brand, content and various digital and print platforms.
• Thoroughly understands the core audiences for Dow Jones Newswires, and their needs and expectations.
• Helps connect the content with the audience.

Media skills

• High level of skill with editing different types of media, e.g., text, graphics, social-media descriptions and photo captions.
• Thoroughly understands and can teach the value of on-page and search-engine optimization, notably headlines and tags.
• Able to guide the creation of publishable story packages/article pages, including adding related links, visuals and other digital elements, that meet WSJ requirements.
• Assesses the digital performance of stories and works to train the editing staff about the data and how best to make adjustments as needed.
• Deep knowledge of digital and social-media strategy and tools.
• Command of newsroom editorial tools, metadata and internal coding for WSJ and DJ Newswires.

Management skills

• Assigns and oversees other editors’ work.
• Sets team schedules, manages workflow and participates in performance reviews.
• Assists in coaching individual editors, identifies training opportunities and plans and leads training presentations as needed.
• Makes coverage decisions and organizes colleagues to execute plans.
• Aids in building collective skills across the editing team.
• Collaborates with reporters and editors from other groups.
• Proactive rather than reactive.
• Communicates precisely, with compassion.
• Participates in recruiting and evaluating candidates during the hiring process,
• Participates in decision-making regarding disciplinary action and compensation.

Personal attributes

• Takes pride in and ownership of his or her own work.
• Prioritizes tasks and time while handling multiple responsibilities.
• Meets deadlines.
• Leads by example and works well across teams.
• Understands workflow beyond his or her own needs.
• Flexible in changing/handing off tasks.
• Functions well within a team.
• Wants to learn new skills.

To apply, go here.