Assistant White House Editor
About The Position
The Assistant White House Editor will help shape The New York Times Washington Bureau report, supporting the White House editor, managing reporters, and collaborating with newsroom teams as news requires. The editor will help launch, assign and edit news and enterprise stories focused on the President and coordinate coverage across platforms. In a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, the role monitors developments, contributes to planning and assignments, edits stories, and helps advance coverage for audiences. The editor will assist with daily and weekly priorities, story planning and budgeting, reporter launches, and first- or second-editing. When the White House editor is absent, this editor will manage the team and share responsibility for coverage of events at night and on weekends. The editor may also be assigned to other developments and live coverage as priorities shift. The role is based in Washington, D.C., with regular attendance in the office four days each week. Some remote-work flexibility may be available according to departmental guidance. Night, weekend and holiday coverage may be required. The Assistant White House Editor reports to the White House editor.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of experience at a journalism or media company or another relevant organization.
- Editing skills demonstrating mastery of journalistic style and standards, including ethical standards.
- Proven news judgment.
- Previous experience managing and editing reporters.
- Previous experience handling multiple storylines with rigor and judgment.
- Experience covering some combination of government, policy and politics.
- Openness to and comfort with new story forms, live coverage and adopting new ways of working as newsroom needs evolve.
- Ability to move quickly across storylines without sacrificing accuracy and tone.
- Ability to make thoughtful news judgments under pressure.
- Willingness to work night and weekend coverage as the role requires.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with White House coverage.
- People management experience.
- Willingness to be nimble and flexible in anticipating potential problems, addressing unexpected issues and finding solutions.
- Strong understanding of Times style and standards.
- Willingness to collaborate and ability to partner with colleagues across The New York Times newsroom.
- Demonstrated ability to drive coverage across multiple topics.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a deputy first editor for the White House team and step in to support the White House editor.
- Assign and provide first edits for breaking, live news and some enterprise stories, ensuring continuity of coverage and clear direction for reporters across beats.
- Edit quick cuts, write-throughs, live stories, daily stories and lead-alls as needed.
- Set up weekend and off-peak Washington coverage, including assigning, editing and coordinating with the News Director, live and breaking news editors, and staff editors on key stories.
- Provide additional support for stories that move or break at night, on weekends or holidays.
- Work flexibly across news developments and coverage teams and across platforms as needed.
- Support live and alternative formats, help determine whether developments belong in live files or traditional stories, and partner with other news editors.
- Build the daily budget and update the week's budget with bureau editors, anticipating news needs and planning future coverage.
- Anticipate potential problems, address unexpected issues and find solutions.
- Identify potential stories, including non-traditional formats, visual stories, service pieces and explanatory pieces.
- Coordinate with editors and the audience team on publication and promotion plans, including headline brainstorming and promotion planning.
- Partner with the Weekend Editor on handoffs at the start and midpoint of the week to ensure clarity and continuity in storylines.
- Collaborate with other team editors to identify potential stories, assign and edit the daily report.
- Demonstrate support for journalistic independence and commitment to the mission of seeking the truth and helping people understand the world.
Benefits
- Depending on the role, eligibility for variable pay such as an annual bonus and restricted stock.
- Medical benefits.
- Dental benefits.
- Vision benefits.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s).
- Company-matching 401(k) plan.
- Employee stock purchase plan.
- Paid vacation.
- Paid sick days.
- Paid parental leave.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Professional development programs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
