Afternoon Digital News Editor

Current Employees:
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Job Category:
Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:
News Editor

Wisconsin Public Radio’s (WPR) Afternoon Digital News Editor will join a team of skilled journalists in bringing WPR’s content across the finish line to millions of users on web and social media platforms, in Wisconsin and beyond. The Afternoon Digital News Editor will shepherd daily web content through final stages of editing, publishing and digital distribution, providing thorough copy editing, attention to AP style and a working knowledge of SEO best practices, all while upholding the highest journalistic ethical standards.

Reporting to the Senior Digital Editor and working collaboratively with peers on the digital team, the Afternoon Digital Editor will ensure final quality control on various digital products including web copy, social media videos and carousels, headlines, photo cutlines and WPR’s daily newsletter. A successful candidate is well‑versed in daily news production, particularly for online audiences, and is familiar with WPR’s key content areas, including state politics, environmental and technology issues, and how Wisconsin fits into national news narratives.

This position is ongoing / renewable.

The full‑time, hybrid position will be headquartered in Milwaukee, WI and work a 40‑hour‑a‑week schedule covering weekday afternoons and early evenings, approximately 11 a.m.–7 p.m., a mission‑critical publishing window for WPR’s news and talk teams. The position requires in‑person work at the Milwaukee bureau 2–3 days a week with occasional travel to Madison for team and all‑staff meetings, and occasional on‑call weekend availability.

Remote work requires an approved flexible work arrangement (FWA). A FWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high‑speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university‑provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the employee’s expense.

Ability to attend remote meetings via Zoom, communicate in written format on Slack and email.

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Information about UW‑Madison Driver Authorization can be found at: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

• Provides editorial guidance in a specific coverage area, which may include assigning stories, editing content, and managing staff
• Manages special projects as assigned
• Assists with management of activities related to the strategy and operations of a news department
• Applies editorial judgment and maintains industry standards of journalistic ethics and excellence
• Collaborates with content teams on both short and long‑term multimedia projects
• May contribute content, including interviewing sources, writing stories, and completing other necessary production tasks to create news/public affairs reports
• Stays abreast of developments in assigned coverage areas, maintains contacts on continued stories to ensure follow‑up, and researches topic areas to provide in‑depth reports

• Demonstrated experience with copy editing for AP Style in a public‑facing role in daily news, preferably public media or a related field.
• Experience with online publishing for a high‑traffic website using Word Press, Grove or a similar content management system.
• Knowledge of SEO best practices and ability to articulate strategic insights across teams while working in a daily, deadline‑driven environment.
• Proficiency with writing, editing and English grammar for digital publishing.
• Experience participating in a collaborative team setting and using active listening, social perception and public speaking to communicate about ideas and tasks.

• Proficiency with crafting content for various social media platforms such as Facebook,…