The Seattle Times is hiring: Assistant Features Editor in Seattle

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is seeking an Assistant Features Editor. The features desk oversees coverage of culture and life in the Greater Seattle area; that encompasses arts and entertainment, food, travel, outdoors and local communities and events. We are seeking a confident leader; an exceptional communicator and time manager; a strong story editor and idea generator; and a firm but fair manager who can effectively manage (and coach) both staff writers and freelancers. We want someone to help lead our broader features coverage, identifying relevant stories and ensuring that we cover local arts and culture in ways that serve our diverse readership. The ideal candidate is able to use analytics and other audience engagement tools to understand what our readers want and need, identify and analyze trends – and possesses the story judgment necessary to turn that analysis into story ideas and sharp reporting. It’s a strong bonus if you have knowledge of and expertise in covering the local arts scene.

Schedule: Mostly Monday-Friday, daytime shift; night and weekend work is occasionally required for event coverage (Oscars, Grammys, concerts, festivals and more).

Responsibilities:

• Plans, charts and executes coverage by leading a team of reporters and freelance writers. Possible coverage areas could include: music, theater, visual arts and arts economy, culture, food and drink and/or outdoors.  
• Masterfully communicates in every direction – with their direct reports, with the features editor, with colleagues, with the features team. 
• Represents features at newsroom meetings and communicates clearly with other departments to explain our coverage plans and assist where necessary. 
• Communicates clearly and collaborates frequently with other departments within the newsroom to ensure we create comprehensive story packages that include photos, graphic, visual and digital elements.
• Works closely with features editors to ensure our coverage is relevant and timely.
• Ensures both breaking news and full-length features are published in a timely manner, meeting production deadlines throughout the process. 
• Rallies staff to respond rapidly and accurately to breaking news as pertains to the beats under your purview. Nimbly edits breaking news on deadline to ensure we get accurate information to readers quickly. 
• Develops stories with staff and freelance writers alike, taking ideas from the pitch phase to publication, monitoring and enhancing the reporting throughout. This includes but is not limited to setting up photos and other visuals, developing a central argument and a nutgraf, discussing narrative choices, etc. 
• Stay on top of news as pertains to the beats you oversee and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure we’re always aware of developing trends and issues.
• Balances budgets deftly – ensuring that our freelance spending stays in check in addition to staff budget lines like travel expenditures, food, etc. 
• Embraces diversity in our workplace and our coverage, thinking inclusively on everything from source representation to story framing, word choice and story presentation. 
• Understands the importance of inclusive coverage in everything we do, and helps the team develop a range of sources and story ideas that represent the rich cultural diversity of our region.  
• Works occasional nights or weekends when news or coverage plans require it. 
• Utilize digital analytics to help devise coverage strategy, reach audiences, win subscribers and build reader loyalty.
• Assist in overseeing the full features staff. 
• Champion newsroom policies and practices.
• Be able and willing to assist in production wherever necessary.
• Represent The Seattle Times features department to the community and other groups as needed. 
• Understands and upholds the standards, ethics and mission of journalism at The Seattle Times.

Qualifications:

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom, and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives.   

• Experience: At least four years of experience in a personnel management role at a metropolitan daily news organization. Preferably candidates will have experience in a role that required them to supervise both reporters and freelance writers, planning and executing coverage and developing and editing stories. 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience.
• We’re seeking someone who exhibits the 6 C’s: curiosity, creativity, collaboration, compassion, competitive spirit and coachability.  
• Must have interest in all general features topics such as culture, arts, entertainment, travel, outdoors food, etc. Expertise in the arts (visual arts, music and theater in particular) is a bonus.
• Demonstrate experience with handling breaking news, story editing and planning. Editing and planning includes both daily news and full-length features. 
• Must possess the ability to find holes in a story, to ask the right questions under pressure and have a working knowledge of what constitutes strong story organization.
• Possess sound news judgment, including an ability to decide quickly and confidently on a story’s newsworthiness, its potential, and later, its strengths and weaknesses. 
• Be able to work quickly and accurately on deadline and to abide by strict deadlines. That includes deadlines for yourself and holding direct reports accountable to deadlines, too. 
• Requires a strong level of accuracy, honesty, fairness and knowledge of libel laws. 
• Possess cultural competence and familiarity with best journalistic practices related to equity and inclusion.
• Have excellent grammar and language skills.
• Be adept with social media and comfortable using all available platforms (including but not limited to X, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and LinkedIn) as news sources, story idea development tools and avenues through which we can promote our work.

Application Materials: When completing your application, please submit three clips that demonstrate your editing ability or your ability to shepherd a project or enterprise story from conception to publication.

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $77,700 to $106,800. We typically pay between $77,700 to $97,100, depending on experience and qualifications.     

Benefits:

• Medical, dental insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
• 10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
• 9 paid holidays
• Subsidized transit cards
• Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
• Wellness program
• Parental leave options

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.

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