Special Projects Editor, Entertainment

USA Today Co•New York, NY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

USA TODAY is seeking a Special Projects Editor to create distinctive and culturally resonant entertainment journalism that cuts through the industry noise. This editor will conceive, launch, and lead tentpole coverage and signature franchises that deepen audience loyalty, grow subscriptions, and position USA TODAY as a destination for ambitious entertainment storytelling. This is a role for an editor who thrives at the intersection of big ideas and sharp execution—someone who can spot white space, build franchises, and guide work across multiple content areas and departments. The ideal candidate is an ambidextrous editor: equally comfortable setting long-term strategy and rolling up their sleeves to shape stories, teams, and formats. The Special Projects Editor will also collaborate across the newsroom, including supporting initiatives with USA TODAY Play and contributing to podcasts, books, and other emerging opportunities. This role will use AI thoughtfully and creatively for things like prototyping ideas or keep workflows efficient.

Requirements

Significant experience as an editor in entertainment, culture, or a related field, with a track record of leading ambitious editorial projects.
Proven ability to develop original tentpole ideas, and shepherd complex projects from concept to execution.
Comfort editing across multiple subject areas and storytelling formats.
Strong editorial judgment, storytelling instincts, and cultural fluency.
Collaborative leadership style with experience working across disciplines and teams.
Curiosity and creativity around AI and emerging tools, paired with sound editorial ethics.
Excellent communication, organization, and project-management skills.

Responsibilities

Lead tentpole and franchise development: Conceive, launch, and oversee major entertainment tentpoles and recurring franchises that are distinctive and audience-driven.
Identify cultural moments, trends, and narrative opportunities that can evolve into long-running, high-impact projects.
Ensure projects are editorially rigorous, visually compelling, and designed to travel across platforms.
Set strategy and editorial vision: Develop clear editorial strategies for special projects, aligning journalism, audience goals, and business priorities.
Translate big-picture ideas into executable plans, timelines, and deliverables.
Serve as a thought partner to senior leadership on innovation, growth, and long-term entertainment strategy.
Edit across content areas: Act as an ambidextrous editor who can span multiple entertainment verticals (TV, film, music, celebrity, culture, creators, etc.).
Assign, edit, and shape stories with a strong sense of voice, narrative, and audience relevance.
Maintain high standards for reporting, storytelling, and ethics across all projects.
Collaborate across the newsroom: Work closely with reporters, editors, visuals, video, audio, audience, and product partners to execute cohesive, multi-platform projects.
Support and help develop projects tied to USA TODAY Play, as well as podcasts, USA TODAY books, and other newsroom initiatives.
Coordinate with USA TODAY Network partners when appropriate to scale impact.
Innovate with AI and new tools: Use AI creatively and responsibly to brainstorm, prototype, and evolve new editorial ideas and workflows.
Experiment with formats, packaging, and storytelling approaches that enhance reach and engagement without compromising journalistic integrity.