Audience Editor, Chron

Hearst•Houston, TX

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

Chron is seeking an Audience Editor to drive audience growth and engagement across various platforms, including social media, video, newsletters, and emerging channels. This role involves developing and executing audience strategies, creating promotional plans for editorial initiatives, and analyzing data to inform strategy. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the Chron brand, a strategic mindset, and hands-on experience in digital publishing. This position acts as a crucial link between editorial content and audience reach, aiming to expand Chron's loyal readership and attract new audiences across Texas.

Requirements

3+ years of relevant experience in audience, social or video publishing strategy, with people-management experience preferred.
A degree in journalism, communications, marketing or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Strong understanding of Houston and Texas, and good instinct for stories that could travel statewide.
SEO experience, including the ability to use search trends, Google Discover/Google News signals and audience data to identify coverage opportunities.
Strong social and video fluency, especially across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and Nextdoor.
Ability to shoot and edit vertical video; experience with CapCut, Canva or similar tools.
Strong writing, copy editing and communication skills, including the ability to write social copy in Chron’s voice with accuracy, clarity and Texas wit.
Excellent news judgment, including comfort with breaking news and knowing when to escalate decisions to newsroom leadership.
AI fluency and curiosity—able to use AI to find audience insights, simplify tasks and find efficiencies, while understanding that AI is no substitute for human judgment and verification.
Experience with social media scheduling tools, analytics platforms and performance reporting.
Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, always-on news environment.

Nice To Haves

People-management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop audience growth strategies across social, video, newsletters, and emerging platforms while leading a team of two audience producers.
Create promotion plans for special editorial initiatives that include site, social, video, newsletter, and search optimization efforts.
Develop audience plans for major initiatives and fast-moving Texas moments.
Analyze data to track performance, identify trends and opportunities, and pivot strategy to meet audiences where they are.
Help run morning editorial meetings by sharing pacing and trending search terms, and recommending story opportunities based on known audience interests.
Create and publish compelling content (text, images, video, etc.) that engages and grows Chron’s social following, inspires shares, drives visits back to the site and supports subscriber and newsletter growth.
Manage Chron’s social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Nextdoor, X, Bluesky, Threads and LinkedIn.
Monitor and respond to audience inquiries, comments and complaints on social media and work with editorial leadership to address them.
Advise reporters and editors on the latest social trends, content ideas that come in through social and search, and how to write and optimize for each platform.
Own and refine Chron’s off-platform video strategy, including helping reporters and editors identify when video is the best way to tell their story.
Shoot and edit short-form vertical video; develop and post social video to Chron’s site and social channels.
Build the team’s overall fluency in video production, social strategy and AI optimization.
Collaborate with editors, reporters and other key stakeholders on promotion plans and special campaigns.
Stay up to date on trends and best practices in video, search and social media.