Messaging Content Strategy Analyst

Messaging Content Strategy Analyst

USA TODAY Co. is looking for a high-energy, audience-focused content strategist with journalism experience (required) to monitor and advise on the performance and innovation of the USA TODAY Co.'s messaging portfolio - focusing primarily on email newsletters, and also advising on SMS and other messaging platforms.

The ideal candidate is passionate about preserving the future of local news through innovative storytelling and engagement experiences. This role is right for you if you're constantly monitoring the latest trends in social media, messaging and emerging platforms and love to experiment and innovate.

In addition to leading our email newsletter and SMS strategies, this role will also give you the opportunity to make an impact on newsrooms across the country, coaching journalists on how to best build trust with their audience through messaging platforms. You will be expected to be an expert on the trends in the creator space outside of the news industry, and be required to find ways to translate those tactics into strategies for our newsrooms.

As a key member of our dynamic Content Strategy/Analytics team, you will utilize your expertise in data analytics, reporting tools and platform insights alongside your messaging expertise to enhance the audience growth and engagement, revenue generation and digital subscription growth for USA TODAY and local USA TODAY Network news sites.

• Work with USA TODAY Network leaders in assessing USA TODAY Co. editorial newsletter and messaging portfolio, including monitoring strategy, performance, developing journeys and driving innovation.
• Translate data points into actionable insights. The right candidate deeply understands data tools and knows how to apply their analytical mindset to content. This is a hands-on data job.
• Create and monitor reporting and KPI progress, including metrics for loyalty, engagement, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevance.
• Develop and manage relevant reporting for new newsletter and messaging experiments and initiatives.
• Partner across divisions to improve revenue and consumer retention with the newsletter and messaging experience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze audience and revenue data (both consumer and advertising/affiliate), identify trends, and provide timely recommendations that contribute to informed business decisions.
• Host trainings on best practices, data-informed decision making and use of analytics tools.
• Coach newsroom partners on best practices for key platforms, including language and tone, style, time of sends, promotion strategies, etc.
• Analytics QA for new product deployments and troubleshooting.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience as a digital leader in a news operation. Prior experience in a digital, print or television news operation is required. Journalism experience is mandatory.
• 7+ years of journalism digital or leadership experience and understanding of the modern digital media landscape.
• 3-5 years of experience in analytics, with a preference for content analytics.
• A proven passion and experience with storytelling via messaging platforms, with expertise in email newsletters, both paid and free products.
• Experience curating newsletters, developing strategies that build newsletter audiences and driving innovation in the messaging/newsletter space.
• Passion for helping news organizations distribute indispensable journalism and building trusted relationships with readers.
• Aptitude for and experience validating, collecting and interpreting data.
• Pro-active leader that can manage their time and prioritization of tasks independently.

• Candidates should have facility with AI and automation and experience in using it to enhance their journalism.
• Experience using and building reports with Google Analytics and Parse.ly or similar tools.
• Advanced skill in Microsoft Excel, including creating pivot tables from complex datasets and understanding of basic Excel formulas.
• Big Query, SQL, Tableau, Google Ad Manager and other analytic and data tools are a bonus. As is experience with using AI to analyze data.
• Expertise in Salesforce/Exact Target is required.
• Experience with platform-specific data tools such as Substack, Subtext, Meta, TikTok, and other platform tools is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with news products and journalism and understanding of media analytics and ethics.

1. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
2. Your resume - one to two pages.
3. An example or two of a project or strategy that you're proud of and had a key hand in leading. Please include a brief description of the work, your role and any relevant results.