Essays Editor

The Essays Editor on the Audience Off Platform team plays a pivotal role in driving Newsweek’s engagement and reach, primarily on syndicated platforms like Apple News by rapidly sourcing, shaping, packaging and enhancing content produced largely by outside contributors. This team member will ensure Newsweek standards are met, and our audiences are engaged by content that tells a clear and cohesive story. This team member will also survey the digital landscape to contribute new and engaging story ideas to the VP of Strategic Partnerships, as well as copy edit and publish non-essays content as needed. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Commission and curate compelling first-person essays that align with the publication’s voice, values, and editorial standards. 
• Identify emerging voices and diverse perspectives, actively seeking contributors from a range of backgrounds and experiences. 
• Develop strong writer relationships, providing clear guidance from pitch through publication, including feedback, revisions, and support. 
• Edit for clarity, structure, and tone, ensuring each piece maintains narrative integrity while resonating with the intended audience. 
• Collaborate with other editorial teams (e.g., social, multimedia, art, legal) to package and promote stories effectively. 
• Maintain an editorial calendar to ensure timely content around cultural moments, awareness campaigns, and seasonal topics. 
• Evaluate submissions and pitches, filtering for quality, originality, and relevance to the publication’s audience. 
• Track performance metrics, using insights to inform commissioning strategies and optimize reader engagement. 
• Uphold ethical standards related to consent, fact-checking, and sensitivity when working with deeply personal or vulnerable stories. 
• Contribute to editorial strategy, participating in planning meetings and brainstorming sessions to shape content direction. 
• Any other reasonable duties to meet the needs of the business. 

Qualifications

• 3+ years of editorial experience, preferably in personal essays, features, or human-interest storytelling. 
• Proven ability to edit narrative nonfiction, with a strong grasp of voice, structure, pacing, and emotional arc. 
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with meticulous attention to detail, grammar, and tone. 
• Experience working with a wide range of writers, including emerging voices and contributors from underrepresented communities. 
• Strong news judgment and cultural awareness, with the ability to identify timely, resonant personal stories. 
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, both with internal teams and external contributors. 
• Comfort handling sensitive topics, including trauma, identity, and mental health, with care and editorial rigor. 
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and juggle a high volume of submissions and editing projects efficiently. 
• Familiarity with content management systems and digital publishing tools. 
• Understanding of audience analytics and how data can inform editorial decisions. 
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 

Salary range: $75,000 commensurate with experience