TV and Pop Culture Critic Job at Boston Globe Media Partners in Boston

Job Description:

The Boston Globe’s Living/Arts department seeks an engaging, experienced writer to fill the newly created role of TV and pop culture critic. The ideal candidate is a TV and pop culture omnivore who will write smart, persuasive reviews, critic’s notebooks, trend pieces, essays, and explainers with voice and authority. You have an encyclopedic knowledge of the TV landscape and the industry forces that are shaping it, and you understand our New England audience’s tastes and interests and are eager to engage with them. We’re looking for someone who will earn readers’ trust as their guide to the best of TV and streaming, enhancing their viewing experience with insightful analysis. You closely follow the cultural discourse happening on all forms of social media and bring a critic’s eye to the most interesting cultural trends, movements, and moments. A sense of humor, superb writing skills, and digital savvy are a must.

Responsibilities:

• Write reviews/previews, working with your editor to single out the offerings most closely aligned with our readers’ sensibilities.
• Write sharp, fresh critic’s notebooks and essays, exploring emerging themes, trends, viewing habits, and other topics in depth.
• Stay on top of your beat, and use your strong news judgment to decide when to jump into a conversation and drive it forward.
• Propose and write rankings, best ofs, and brackets that invite reader participation.
• Meet the moment in the moment. If Globe readers are particularly interested in a particular show, artist/entertainer, or pop culture topic/development/controversy, quickly find new and creative ways to share thoughtful analysis.
• Keep your eye on equity. Whose stories are being told and by whom? Who holds the power and who is left out or misrepresented?
• Occasionally host or moderate Globe-sponsored events, and appear on local radio or TV.
• Strategize on awards-show coverage, make yearly Emmy awards predictions, and write post-show analysis.
• Follow your reader analytics closely, learning from successes and being responsive to challenges and opportunities.
• Participate in department meetings and special projects and help set the direction of Living/Arts coverage.

Qualifications:

• At least three years of reviewing experience at a major newspaper, magazine, or website
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• A willingness to adapt and be audience focused, with an inquisitive mindset and a commitment to creating an inclusive work environment
• Digital savvy, with regard to the stories that will resonate online, the headlines and assets that will maximize readership, and social media strategies that can drive engagement. Experience tracking digital metrics, and strategies for how to make use of that data in meaningful ways. Commitment to crafting stories in ways that will give them the best chance to succeed in a busy media landscape.

The BGMP office is located in downtown Boston, near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, and is easily accessible by MBTA and commuter rail lines. This position is based in Boston, and candidates should be based in the area or willing to move.

Please submit a cover letter describing three new TV shows you’d recommend to our readers and why, as well as one trend piece idea about either TV or pop culture more generally. In your letter, please also include links to six recently published pieces relevant to this job posting. (No AI-generated or -assisted cover letters or writing, please.)

This position is a union position covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Boston Newspaper Guild.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

EEO Statement: At Boston Globe Media, our mission is to empower, connect, and convene our communities with independent, trusted journalism and storytelling. We know a critical part of achieving this is by having a workforce that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive - like the communities we serve. Boston Globe Media is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes candidates and colleagues of all backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills.