DDM is looking for an Assistant News Editor, who can deliver rich, engaging, brand-building content while maintaining high editorial standards for AtlantaBlackStar.com. The ideal candidate will have a keen understanding of ABS’s narrative and through that lens determine the social and political implications any given event can have on Black people. Additionally, the candidate must be able to effectively communicate that insight to writers. The best candidate will be well versed in local, national and international politics/social news.
They will have a strong ability to juggle daily duties with long-term planning, along with the ability to easily articulate the day’s priorities down to the contributors and up to the publication’s top editors.
The primary objective of this role is to position Atlanta Black Star as the premier source for social and political news about Black people locally, nationally and internationally.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Manage pitch meetings with an exceptional ability to identify stories that will resonate with ABS’s audience, package aggregated and original stories in a new and easy to digest way, set deadlines
• Reacts aggressively and decisively to breaking news, helping ABS win the story on ALL platforms
• Keeps a keen eye on data to understand how stories impact our audience and meet target goals
• Conduct interviews in person (on or off camera), by phone or via email when needed
• Maintains a growing list of contacts to regularly secure exclusive content
• Keeps a rich source list to uncover stories before competitors cover them
• Write superior headlines that spur readership and social media interactions
• Work alongside the social media team to ensure stories are shared across all platforms
• Write breaking news as needed
• Coach and manage staff to constantly dig for more information, secure exclusive content and gain ownership of their story
• Ensure news vertical meets desired production and traffic goals
• Top-edit all stories within your category, ensuring grammar is clean, tone is on brand, and copy flows
• Maintains awareness of competitors’ content and informs newsroom of where we’re behind – and ahead.
• Create, maintain and enforce editorial calendar
• Publish online content
• Maintains, enforces, and improves in-house style guide and voice & tone standards
• Be receptive and adapt quickly to newsroom-wide changes and new policies
• Work alongside managing editor and video team to create high-quality, complementary videos for news stories
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or comparable degree
• At least two years managing in an editorial position in a newsroom, digital media a plus
• In-depth knowledge of AP style is helpful
• Proven leadership skills and solid news judgment
• Well-developed editing and writing skills
• Has a strong desire to tell the whole story
• Has a unique understanding of how race impacts the life of Black people in America, an International perspective is a plus
• Deep interest in policy issues as it relates to Black people (National and International)
• Superior time management skills
• Must be an organized self-starter who can communicate well
• Understanding of journalistic ethics and legal/libel knowledge
• Excellent research and fact-checking ability a plus
• Strong ability to multi-task, and to quickly re-set priorities as news breaks
• Strong or unique social media presence a plus
• Must be able to work weekends and mornings, including holidays
Salary: Competitive salary + benefits
Send all resumes to [email protected].