Editor, Politics & Society

Editor, Politics & Society, The Conversation U.S.

Job : 73837

Location: Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Salary: $85,000 to $92,000 per year

Contact: sumalitaa (Subject line: "Politics and Society Editor")

The Conversation U.S. (TCUS) is an independent, nonprofit media organization that publishes daily news analysis, commentary, and research news written by academics, edited by journalists and aimed at the general public. Our editorial team works with scholars across the U.S. to help the general public make sense of important news and research.

The Politics & Society Desk at The Conversation U.S. covers politics from a public interest perspective. We help readers understand American democracy – what values and ideals Americans claim to uphold, the processes by which they seek to do that, and whether they succeed or fall short.

We’re looking for a fast‑paced, energetic and hard‑working editor to join the politics team in helping readers make sense of what’s happening in Washington and beyond. The successful candidate will have at least five years in journalism, including at least three as an editor and two covering politics. Other important traits include strong communication and teamwork skills. Experience at a wire service is a plus, as is experience editing stories written by scholars.

• Commission and edit 3-4 clear, thoughtful and important articles each week on politics and government, including breaking news, working with scholars to bring their expertise to the public in the form of expert analysis and explanatory journalism.
• Keep abreast of both current and emerging news, ideas and trends in government and politics.
• Participate in brainstorming and planning discussions for stories and series in collaboration with other desks and Conversation editors in other countries.
• Identify scholars of government, politics and other relevant fields in member universities and cultivate their enthusiasm to write for The Conversation.

• Understand and embrace our mission.
• Commission and edit stories for their desk, including photo research.
• Have the news judgment to generate ideas for stories as well as the knowledge to seek out meaningful new research, helping us meet our double aspirations of reacting to the news with original insight and context and setting the agenda by covering new ideas.
• Create and maintain clear, timely and professional communications with academic authors and fellow editors.
• Help maintain The Conversation’s high standards by editing the work of other editors.
• Work with scholar‑authors to structure stories, simplify research without losing nuance, line‑edit copy into plain English and fact-check (including checking for conflicts of interest).
• Assess and give substantive feedback to scholars’ story pitches.
• Attend daily news meetings as well as monthly planning and staff meetings.
• Learn and apply our house style.
• Participate in The Conversation’s public outreach, including running training sessions for scholars and attending relevant conferences.

• Five years of journalism experience, including at least three years of editing experience, preferably in a daily news environment. Wire experience is a plus.
• Previously covered government and politics.
• A sense of humor and the ability to work as a team player.
• The ability to quickly grasp the deeper meaning and context behind political developments and trends.
• An understanding of the crucial difference between opinion and analysis.
• A commitment to strong journalistic ethics.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of five years of journalism, including three years editing (duplicate of earlier point).
• Highly organized, articulate, meticulous and insightful editor with the ability to meet fast‑paced daily deadlines, manage multiple tasks and work as part of a diverse collaborative team with high editorial and ethical standards.
• Ability to be highly productive while working independently and remotely.
• Skilled at developing story ideas of interest to the public.
• Experience in online content production.

401(k) matching, PTO, sick days, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, parental leave, vision…