Writer/Editor

American Counseling Association•Alexandria, VA

1d•$80,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Writer/Editor creates original copy from concept to completion, including short- and long-form news and feature articles for Counseling Today’s print and digital portfolio. The Writer/Editor is a skilled storyteller and experienced newswriter who can write for mental health professionals (e.g., licensed counselors and counselor educators) and those interested in learning more about mental health (i.e., the public). The Writer/Editor develops internal and external sources, conducts background research to inform reporting and interviews subject matter experts. In addition, the Writer/Editor ensures the editorial integrity of key publications across the organization. ACA’s bimonthly magazine, Counseling Today, has been the premier source of news and information about professional counseling since 1958. The print magazine presents news and in-depth features about mental health, research, effective clinical techniques, advocacy efforts, career guidance, ethical issues and counselor wellness. The Counseling Today portfolio also includes a digital member blog and “online exclusive” feature articles. In addition to the below list of responsibilities, the Writer/Editor will carry out assigned tasks that are consistent with the general responsibilities of this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in journalism, English, communications or a related field.
At least five years of progressive experience in newswriting.
Expertise in editing; formal copyediting certification highly preferred.
Strong storytelling (print and digital) skills.
Ability to manage an article from inception to publication, including researching, interviewing, writing and editing.
Ability to adapt style, tone and voice to write and edit a variety of materials across platforms.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work successfully in a team-based environment.
Expertise with AP style, house style guides, editorial checklists and plain language.
Proficiency in MS Office Suite, including the Review (Track Changes) function in MS Word and Acrobat Pro.
Familiarity with project management tools such as Monday, content management systems such as SiteFinity, and web analytics platforms such as Google Analytics.
Ability to exercise good judgment when there is ambiguity.
Willingness to be proactive, resourceful and adaptable to changing priorities/workloads.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritize assignments and meet production deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Formal copyediting certification highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Write eight to 10 feature articles per year (about 1,500-2,000 words) for print issues of Counseling Today and online exclusives.
Write short articles (about 300-500 words) for several recurring departments in each print issue.
Research and compile listicle-style statistics, facts, news and event announcements.
Collaborate with editor-in-chief and production team to generate story topics for the magazine.
Research and identify subject matter experts to serve as sources, develop story plans and interview questions, and conduct interviews with sources.
Attend the annual ACA Conference & Expo to cover sessions, write recaps of selected sessions and identify potential sources and contributors.
Cultivate relationships with ACA leadership, members, potential sources and the mental health community to inform story development.
Support the editor-in-chief to review and assess story pitches, article ideas and member submissions.
Support the editor-in-chief to monitor and maintain the Counseling Today email inbox, including logging manuscript submissions and corresponding with contributors.
Provide developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading and fact-checking support for member submissions, online exclusives and member blogs.
Support the proofreading and promotion of content for advertisements, blogs, newsletters, web pages, social media, podcasts, webinars, video scripts and marketing collateral as needed.
Learn, maintain and update the ACA Style Guide and Associated Press (AP) Stylebook licenses.
Coach staff and external contributors through the content creation process and advise on questions about ACA style.
Provide support as needed in the page-proofing process for Counseling Today.
Support the editor-in-chief to plan, develop and manage digital content strategy for the web and newsletters.
Support the web manager to format and post digital versions of magazine content for the website.
Monitor mental health news, ACA membership/reader data, website analytics and other metrics to ensure stories deliver member value.