Overview
State Affairs, a national, digital news site reporting on state legislatures around the country, is in search of an experienced deputy editor to cover critical news and policy coming out of state capitols across the country.
The Deputy Editor plays a vital role in overseeing the editorial operations of State Affairs Pro. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of compelling, relevant and accurate news stories to our readership. This position requires a strong journalistic or copy-editing background and a passion for delivering impactful nonpartisan news. Attention to detail is paramount, and knowledge of The Associated Press style is desirable. A passion for politics is desirable.
In short, we need someone who can communicate well with many different people across our organization and help coordinate the team’s efforts in achieving company goals.
The Deputy Editor should be adept at managing a daily flow of stories to inform and engage readers who are deeply engaged with state politics, including those who work in or closely with state government. Also, the Deputy Editor should be able to use audience data to inform news coverage decisions, while evolving content with depth, interactivity and reach through a digital lens.
State Affairs is deeply dedicated to nonpartisan news coverage of state governments around the country.
This full-time job with benefits is an in-person position in Miami, FL, with opportunities on some days to work from home. Some travel is required.
The salary range is $64,000 to $80,000.
Duties and responsibilities
- Edit stories, graphics, pull quotes, info boxes, etc., for content, errors and libel, taking into consideration AP style and the in-house style guide.
- Proofread/copy edit the weekly Pro editions before publication
- Edit the Kansas Daily Wire and Indiana Daily Wire newsletters.
- Run editorial meetings in the Editor-in-Chief’s absence.
- Write corrections or clarifications with the reporter on a story when needed.
- Maintain guidelines and submissions from freelancers and guest contributors.
- Work collaboratively with other editors, reporters, photographers and other team members to tell impactful stories across platforms.
- Assist in developing and implementing editorial strategies to enhance audience engagement, increase readership and drive digital growth.
- Elevate reporters’ stories by seizing opportunities for in-depth enterprise stories, including those with statewide, and at times national, reach.
- Communicate quickly and effectively with reporters to break news online and follow up when appropriate with more in-depth enterprise pieces.
- Demonstrate a high comfort level with analyzing and interpreting metrics and use them to inform coverage decisions in real-time and the long-term.
- Conceptualize and assign stories aimed at growing paid digital subscriptions, guiding staffers through the reporting process and editing their work with excellent command of grammar, usage and AP style.
- Develop staffers’ talents and offer constructive criticism of their work.
- Coordinate with the Editor-in-Chief, the Production Editor and non-editorial departments on projects.
- Assist with production of newsletters.
- Edit and proofread newsletters.
- In the Newsletter Editor’s absence, assist the Production Editor or reporting staff (gather/edit/send).
- Review, edit and post State Affairs Pro copy to the website according to State Affairs standards.
- Review, copy-edit and post the Pro Indiana and Kansas Daily Wire newsletters.
- Work across all departments to help with metrics and ensure the smooth operation of the Pro teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in journalism, with a background in newsroom management or editorial leadership.
- Proven track record of delivering high-quality, impactful journalism across multiple platforms.
- Deep understanding of the principles of journalism, ethical guidelines and legal considerations.
- A firm commitment to nonpartisan news coverage.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate and develop a diverse team of journalists.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including exceptional editing and storytelling abilities.
- Familiarity with digital publishing platforms, analytics tools and social media platforms.
State Affairs is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or veteran or disability status. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented demographics.
Apply
Interested candidates should email their resume and cover letter to Alison Bethel, Chief Content Officer and Editor-in-Chief, at alison@stateaffairs.com. Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed.
