West Coast Entertainment Breaking and Trending News Editor, USA TODAY
About The Position
USA TODAY is looking for an entertainment editor whose passion for entertainment and pop culture shines through. The West Coast Entertainment Breaking and Trending News Editor is responsible for identifying, editing and driving timelyentertainment coverage with strong audience engagement potential. The role focuses on real-time and daily trending news, event staffing and coordination across Entertainment content areas, while upholding USA TODAY editorial standards and sourcing guidelines. We're looking for an editor who can react quickly to breaking news and won’t hesitate to jump in to write stories when needed.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 5+ years experience in entertainment journalism, including editing.
- Experience covering news in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong competitive instincts and intellectual curiosity; core knowledge of the entertainment industry.
- Access to cable TV and streaming services.
- Proficiency in digital publishing, metrics and SEO best practices.
- Strong editorial judgment and storytelling skills.
- Experience working with CMS, SEO, and analytics tools.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Network of industry contacts and sources.
- Enthusiasm to try new things in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Media and entertainment are changing daily, and we aim to meet the moment.
Responsibilities
- Oversee and contributes to breaking and trending entertainment news, including high-traffic moments, live events and rapid-response coverage.
- Identify high-interest entertainment and pop culture stories ahead of competitors and, at times, jumps in to write breaking and trending entertainment news.
- Abide by strong fact-checking and accuracy standards, with a solid command of AP Style.
- Strong news judgment and ability to work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Evaluate West Coast press invites, recommend coverage strategies, and coordinate staffing for entertainment events (e.g., awards shows, media previews, celebrity appearances).
- Communicates staffing options and constraints with senior editors and photo and video leads.
- Work closely with senior editors and peer editors to manage coverage plans, shift schedules and handoffs, including coordination across time zones and during travel or remote work periods.
- Serve as a point of contact between Entertainment and related desks to flag relevant interviews, pitches, or coverage opportunities.
- Demonstrated passion for entertainment and pop culture, with prior digital news experience.
- Use AI tools responsibly to assist with research, trend analysis, transcription, and content packaging to improve efficiency and creativity.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
