Paygrade: 110 | Minimum starting salary $58,225 with excellent benefits and pension.
Summary: The Florida Bar Journal & News is looking for its next great storyteller. The Senior Editor will use strong writing skills to tell the news of the legal profession to The Florida Bar’s 111,000+ members. The ideal candidate would have mastered the proper use of AP style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The Senior Editor will cultivate news sources and prepare and execute interviews with notable members of the judiciary, Bar leadership, and legislators. This position is responsible for improving the quality of two publications, the News and Journal. A preferred candidate would have experience with Adobe Creative Suite and laying out copy and images using InDesign, WordPress, and Informz, or comparable email marketing platform. The department takes on the pivotal role of keeping the legal community informed and educated about the profession on a daily basis, both online and in print.
Required minimum education: Bachelor's in Journalism or English (proof of degree required at interview).
Required minimum professional work experience: Eight (8) years of experience in news reporting.
Must submit a writing sample with the application.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Write news and feature stories of interest to Florida's lawyers and judges for the News, drawing from research, legal issues in the news, current events, and from cultivating sources within the legal community.
Attends Bar-wide meetings, such as Annual Convention and Winter Meeting, to write News articles regarding activities of Bar sections and committees, swearing-in ceremonies of Bar leadership, special keynote speakers, and takes photos to accompany those stories.
Proofs all News copy and photo cutlines, both in print and online, for factual accuracy, clarity, fairness, grammatical, and spelling correctness - making corrections in Adobe InDesign to prepare for publication. Help proof Journal articles and other Bar communications as needed.
Attends legislative committee meetings and regular sessions of the Senate and House to write comprehensive News articles regarding evolution of laws of interest to our members, court funding, and issues that impact the independence of the judiciary.
Researches and writes comprehensive profiles and goals of Bar presidents annually and Florida Supreme Court chief justices biannually, as well as managing the professional photography process and gathering accompanying personal photos of profile subjects. Writes special articles for the Journal when needed. Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge Of
Governance of the Bar
Makeup of the state & federal court systems
Functioning of the Legislature, and information related to the functioning of the legal system and the practice of law
Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar usage
Skilled In
Computer word processing with at least a moderate knowledge of graphic design programs
Advanced journalism to include in depth analysis of issues, perceptive interviews and research
Active listening
Writing
Proofreading
Photography
Ability To
Absorb large amounts of sometimes very complex and technical information and distill it into readable stories.
Present diverse information in an organized way.
Conduct internet research.
Communicate effectively and professionally, both verbally and in writing
Pay attention to detail
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
Use discretion and independent judgment
Travel
Additional Information: There is a need to be able to be attentive during long meetings on complex and/or technical issues, such as day-long Board of Governors meetings, or extended committee meetings of the Legislature or long meetings, or example of Bar procedural rules committees. Frequent travel. Ability to sit for long periods of time, hear and converse over the telephone, and key/work frequently on a computer. Ability to lift 5 to 10 lbs.
Please notify HR, in advance, if you need reasonable accommodations to participate in the employment process.
EOE. This organization participates in E-Verify. Position is open until filled. Exempt.
This position is located in Tallahassee, Florida and is not a remote position.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
Legal Services
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