Messaging Specialist

USA TODAY is looking for a high-energy, audience-focused Messaging Specialist with journalism experience (required) to monitor and advise on the performance and innovation of USA TODAY's messaging portfolio - focusing primarily on email newsletters.

The ideal candidate is passionate about preserving the future of news through innovative storytelling and engagement experiences. This role is right for you if you're constantly monitoring the latest trends in messaging (including email newsletters, SMS, WhatsApp, Discord) and emerging platforms and love to experiment and innovate.

As a key strategic leader on the new USA TODAY audience team, you will combine expertise in newsletter strategy, messaging, data analytics, and platform insights to grow audience and discoverability, deepen engagement, and support new revenue opportunities. You will take a portfolio-wide view of USA TODAY's newsletter and messaging offerings, translating editorial and business priorities and audience needs into experiences that are timely, relevant, and engaging.

• Lead USA TODAY's email newsletter and messaging strategy, working with USA TODAY leaders and the broader USA TODAY audience team to assess our portfolio and performance, develop audience journeys and drive innovation.
• Own flagship newsletter and messaging products, partnering with newsroom teams to increase discoverability, audience growth, engagement, retention, and revenue.
• Support SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging initiatives throughout the USA TODAY newsroom and broader USA TODAY Network.
• Monitor performance, identify growth opportunities, and lead experiments in partnership with content strategy.
• Adapt platform strategy in real time to deliver timely, relevant experiences during breaking news and major events.
• Translate data points into actionable insights. The right candidate deeply understands data tools and knows how to apply their analytical mindset to content.
• Partner across divisions to improve newsletter revenue and consumer retention.
• Collaborate with AI leads to test and implement tools that strengthen newsletter and messaging efficiency.
• Coach journalists on newsletter and messaging best practices and lead training for newsletter hosts, audience editors, and curators.
• Balance and execute editorial and business priorities while keeping audience needs and broader organizational goals at the center of every decision.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in digital journalism or newsroom leadership, including experience in a digital, print, or television news organization. Journalism experience is mandatory.
• 3-5 years of experience in analytics, with a preference for content analytics.
• Experience curating newsletters, growing newsletter audiences, and developing innovative messaging strategies.
• Strong knowledge of the digital media landscape and the role newsletters and messaging plays in audience engagement, discoverability, retention, and revenue.
• Ability to independently manage priorities and execute across competing demands.
• A collaborative spirit, able to lead not only direct reports but peers across the organization and a passion for coaching others.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to align editorial work with audience and organizational goals.

• Experience using AI and automation to enhance journalism, newsletters, or messaging workflows.
• Proficiency with Google Analytics, Parse.ly, or similar analytics platforms.
• Experience with messaging and email platforms such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud/ExactTarget, Subtext, and Substack.
• 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.