Deputy Editor, Now (Breaking News)

Summary: The journalist in this position will help lead the breaking news portfolio at The Philadelphia Inquirer, coordinating coverage on the Now Desk, along with coverage of large events by journalists throughout the newsroom.

The Now Desk is an integral hub for major stories at The Inquirer, steering live coverage throughout the newsroom and working on everything from crime to sports celebrations and trends both analytical and pop cultural. This editor will need to be available when news breaks – any time it breaks – to make sure the Now Desk, and the newsroom as a whole, is covering all angles. This is an exempt position.

The Now Desk’s mission is to grab readers’ attention with innovative storytelling. So this editor must be adept at considering unique story forms and angles to get readers into highly competitive stories. During large news events that require contributions from many desks, this editor must think big picture to identify the next-day story today.

This editor is responsible for helping to steer Now’s general assignment reporters throughout the news of the day and defining their roles in news events, as well as identify what Philadelphians are talking about and figure out how to cover those topics in entertaining ways. This editor should have experience in live coverage and setting an editorial agenda, along with strong editing skills, meticulous organization, and creativity. This job requires an adept manager both to run the team and work across the newsroom to create solid coverage plans. This editor must also work with The Inquirer’s product team, as the Now Desk is often the incubator for new newsroom tools.

What You’ll Do:

• Create a daily editorial plan for a general assignment team, marking sure that the team is covering important news stories as well as trends that Philadelphians are talking about. This editor is responsible for tracking what our readers are interested in and pivoting to cover that news.
• Collaborate closely and collegially with Now Desk editors on management of the team; communicate coverage plans and ambitions with clarity and consistency.
• Find opportunities for creative storytelling, such as live coverage and alternative storytelling methods both on and off platform.
• Collaborate with our Product, Design and Engineering team to advance how Inquirer journalists tell stories.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Minimum of 8 to 10 years experience in journalism.
• Someone who is ambidextrous enough to work collaboratively with a growing team and who can also be self-motivated and perform tasks independently.
• Ability to work with a wide range of writers of different skill levels
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to adapt quickly to meet the evolving demands of daily news stories.
• Strong Communication Skills