Audience Specialist; UNION - Content

Editor For The Arizona Republic/

The Arizona Republic/ is seeking a dynamic, creative, and collaborative editor to join our Arizona team. In this role, you'll be at the front lines of writing and producing compelling opinion columns, crafting impactful video content, and cultivating vibrant social media audiences for opinion journalism.

Role Overview:

• Work closely with columnists, editors, the audience team, and contributors to enrich and amplify opinion journalism and featured reader letters for Arizonans.
• Write, host, produce, edit, and publish original video segments that enhance opinion columns, guest columns and elevate letters to the editor as part of our engagement strategy.
• Design and execute innovative content for platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram Reels, You Tube Shorts, and emerging social media channels to maximize reach and spark dialogue around opinion topics relevant to Arizona.
• Develop and implement audience growth strategies, using real-time analytics to expand and retain viewership and readership of opinion content.
• Serve as a visible brand ambassador for The Arizona Republic/, delivering video standups, interviews with columnists and behind-the-scenes insights from the newsroom or the community.
• Stay on top of social trends, platform developments, and new techniques to keep our opinion video content and reader engagement fresh, relevant, and impactful.

Responsibilities:

• Produce opinion columns, videos, and letters to the editor that engage Arizona audiences and spark conversation.
• Collaborate with contributors to create, edit, and deliver vertical video and multimedia stories that deepen public understanding and interaction with opinion content.
• Engage with readers both online and in-person, sourcing and elevating powerful letters and opinion pieces that reflect the diversity of Arizona's voices.
• Participate in editorial planning meetings, pitching new ideas that integrate opinion journalism, reader letters, and social storytelling.
• Promote The Arizona Republic/ brand with strategic, shareable opinion content, driving loyalty and audience growth across Arizona.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism, media production, communications, or related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience producing high-impact opinion columns, editing video, and growing opinion audiences on social platforms.
• Expertise with video creation tools, editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, social platform apps), and opinion journalism best practices.
• Ability to work under deadline pressure and adapt to rapidly changing news situations while maintaining editorial integrity and creativity.
• Strong understanding of social media algorithms, audience analytics, and engagement strategies, with a passion for local Arizona stories and voices.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; able to work collaboratively and independently in a high-paced editorial environment.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation to cover stories and capture community perspectives throughout Arizona as needed.
• Flexible schedule including mornings, evenings, and weekends, as required by editorial needs and audience engagement opportunities.

Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check.

Application Instructions:

To apply, submit a single PDF including your resume, a cover letter detailing your approach to producing opinion content and growing social media audiences in Arizona, and links to 15–20 recent examples of your work in opinion writing and social video.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status, education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co.

employs employees. USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant's disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals' application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.'s Recruitment Department at  Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location.

Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.