The Los Angeles Times is seeking a deputy op-ed editor. Being an op-ed editor requires intellectual curiosity, creativity and a deep interest in the most urgent news of the day and in cultural trends. Overseeing opinion content, generating ideas, spotting trends and developing new, influential writers are at the heart of the job.
This job requires commissioning, selecting and editing commentary across a wide array of viewpoints and subjects, including politics, science, arts and culture, international affairs and all issues of interest to California readers. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to commissioning, shepherding and publishing diverse voices.
Superb editing skills and diplomacy are an absolute must. A strong writing background and a network of contacts are also essential for success.
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The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in editing all forms of content - breaking news opinion, issue-analysis pieces, personal essays, graphic/photo essays. This editor should be skilled in shepherding projects for both digital and print publication. The successful candidate is someone who thinks innovatively and creatively about new ways of presenting opinion content and connecting with our readers. An interest in visual storytelling, comics, graphics and other mediums would be extremely useful.
This position requires dedication to accuracy, clarity, intellectual honesty and ethics. The editor must be an excellent and supportive colleague to team members and work well with contributors outside of The Times.
Responsibilities:
- Assign and edit opinion content, generating ideas, finding appropriate contributors and fielding over-the-transom submissions
- Monitor current events nationally, regionally and locally to ensure The Times is part of, or ahead of, the conversation
- Ensure that opinions are well argued and facts are presented fairly and accurately, meeting the ethical standards and style of The Times
- Manage opinion columnists and junior editors
- Represent the department at editorial meetings as needed
- Help set a strategic course for the department that prioritizes digital development, grows audience and digital subscriptions, and fulfills company goals
- Produce pieces, in collaboration with newsroom staff, including photo, design and copy desks, on multiple platforms
- Ensure that the department meets digital and print production deadlines and maintains ideal story flow
- Complete management tasks such as absence requests for direct reports
- Help recruit and hire new staffers
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements:
- A minimum of six years of editing experience
- Demonstrated experience editing opinion journalism
- Excellent skills and experience in content and line editing, combining strong news judgment, fluency in style and deep knowledge of taste and legal considerations
- Ability to stay on top of current events from a range of sources and multiple subject areas
- Proven ability to work well in a team setting, and with a wide variety of contributors, juggling multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment
- A nuanced understanding of audience data and analytics and a track record of using data to make informed decisions
- An ethical and inclusive approach in the workplace that promotes collaboration
- Proven ability to supervise other editors
- Versatility and adaptability working across subject areas, points of view and production platforms
This is a management position and includes supervisory and administrative duties, as well as occasional night and weekend work. Preferably, the job will be based in El Segundo, Calif.
Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and portfolio, including a before/after editing sample, to Op-Ed Editor Susan Brenneman at the apply link.