Staff Photo Editor, Digital News Desk

The New York Times•Washington, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The New York Times is seeking an experienced and agile news photo editor for its Digital News Desk team. This role involves guiding photographic coverage from the breaking news operation, curating content for the desktop and mobile home screens, and managing global newsletter products. The photo editor will collaborate with editors from Express, Newsletters, News Desks, Shows, as well as colleagues in photo, design, graphics, and video. They will work productively and collegially with staff and freelance photographers, and other photo editors. A key aspect of the role is experience and confidence in working with wire services, agencies, social media, and other picture/video sources, including photographer estates. The position requires driving visual curation and presentation of original assigned photography across multiple platforms, assigning breaking news visual coverage, and contributing to Live coverage. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for photojournalism and visual storytelling, a broad knowledge of the current photographic landscape including innovative digital formats and mobile-first multimedia, excellent editorial judgment, journalistic integrity, and knowledge of photographic usage and copyright. They must be able to edit sharply for multiple platforms, produce complex photo assignments, conduct thorough agency and social media research, and work quickly in a large newsroom. Early mornings, nights, or weekends may be required. This is a Wednesday-Sunday position based in New York or DC, requiring regular office attendance two days a week, with potential flexibility for remote work per departmental guidance.

Requirements

5+ years in a newsroom photo editing role.
Experience assigning and directing photojournalists in a variety of situations.
Exceptional technical skills, including in depth knowledge of web tools and programs, content management systems, Photoshop, PhotoMechanic, video editing tools, FTP, and social media platforms.
Knowledge of responsive design and best practices for building stories and editing images for maximum impact on mobile devices.

Nice To Haves

An enthusiasm for visual journalism and current events, coupled with keen news judgment and ethics.
Strong organizational, communication and collaborative abilities.
Proven deep research skills.
The initiative to take on and learn new tasks.
Openness to working a flexible schedule as news demands.
Experience making quick decisions under deadlines and a high-pressure news environment.
Can work occasional early mornings, nights or weekends.

Responsibilities

Produce and build promotional visual assets for news stories and enterprise content with attention to detail in a fast-paced newsroom, and across a variety of digital surfaces, including the homescreen and live coverage, Listen tab and newsletters.
Learn, embrace and publish innovative and experimental visual storytelling formats.
Own critical editorial decision making in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely and accurate visual journalism.
Demonstrate strong editorial judgment, working with Times editors and legal department for all vetting, copyright and ethics questions.
Maintain a very high level of photography and video assigning for news, narrative, investigative, feature and enterprise stories for all platforms including mobile and print.
Demonstrate the ability to pitch, develop, edit, pace and build a powerful visual story, incorporating multimedia and the use of innovative storytelling tools.
Work with reporters and editors to shape ideas into visual story opportunities.
Focus on working with a diverse range of subjects and photographers, keeping our global and multigenerational audience in mind.
Work to strengthen relationships with the photographers you are directing through briefings, regular contact and feedback.
Work closely with supervisor and broader department, fostering productive, collegial and collaborative relationships with journalists throughout the newsroom.
Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.