New Scientist, Physics & Technology Features Editor

New Scientist is the world’s leading weekly science and technology magazine, with a thriving editorial team based in London, Sydney, Chicago and Portland.

We seek a feature editor to help shape our coverage of physics, cosmology and technology.

This is a rare opportunity to join the New Scientist features team, and the successful candidate will be responsible for creating compelling, highly original feature content.

They will also work closely with colleagues across the business to develop innovative ways to present stories in print and online for our international readership.

The winning candidate will have significant feature writing and editing experience for a national or international news organisation. They will also be able to demonstrate a passionate interest in both science and technology.

The ideal candidate will also have an excellent working knowledge of digital journalism, SEO and ideally audio and video production. They will be enthusiastic about collaborating with the commercial, marketing and product development teams to help expand the New Scientist audience.

This is going to be a very hands-on position within a fairly small, but highly dedicated group of expert science journalists.

To apply, please send a CV, one-page cover letter and ideas for three features and one special issue.

We welcome applications from anywhere in the world, and from a diverse range of candidates.

REPORTS TO:

Heads of Features

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Heads of Features, Executive Editor, Editor, News Editor, Feature Editors, Picture Editor, Art Editor, Digital Editor, Editorial Digital Team, Chief Sub-Editor, Subbing team, Live Events team, Production team.

ROLE PURPOSE:

This is a rare opportunity to join the features team within editorial and play a pivotal role in shaping New Scientist’s leading coverage of physics, cosmology and technology.

The physics and technology feature editor will be responsible for commissioning and editing exciting, cutting-edge features.

They will be on top of the latest research in the physical sciences, identifying both emerging findings and broader shifts in research trends. They will come up with innovative feature treatments and ideas for more expansive, in-depth special packages.

The successful candidate will also be at home with digital journalism and will come up with inventive digital treatments for our features. They will collaborate with other teams to ensure the best possible physical sciences and technology content, including with our burgeoning events business.

KEY TASKS / OBJECTIVES:

• Stay on top of emerging research in physical sciences and technology, including regularly attending conferences, visiting labs or otherwise talking to scientists to find the best stories in physics, technology and cosmology
• Commission timely, informative and entertaining features in these areas, and work with in-house and freelance writers to shape copy to an exacting standard
• Work closely with the art and picture desks to devise compelling layouts and irresistible pages, informative graphics, and visual treatments for digital platforms
• Come up with smart and innovative approaches to draw in new digital audiences and help features fly online
• Collaborate with the news team to ensure the magazine has the best coverage of physical sciences and technology across news and features
• Work closely with senior colleagues across all editorial departments, and with our events teams, to ensure that feature content and innovative events are produced to high standards  
• Represent the magazine at live events, and occasionally on the radio or TV 
• Contribute occasionally to the New Scientist weekly podcast 
• Collaborate with the commercial, marketing and new product development teams to help expand the New Scientist audience

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• A passionate interest in both science and technology, ideally with a degree or higher degree in physics or computing
• A solid understanding of the physical sciences
• Significant feature editing experience for a national or international news organisation
• Clear vision and purpose for the role
• Significant hands-on understanding of digital journalism
• Excellent understanding of social media, SEO and audience engagement
• Good track record of effective collaboration on editorial projects

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS:

• Excellent editorial judgement and an imaginative approach to physics and technology journalism
• Hands-on approach to story finding, and an ability to generate inventive and compelling ideas
• Writing, editing and storytelling flair
• Collaborative and able to build relationships with people at all levels, both internally across multiple departments and also externally
• Flexible and adaptable, a highly organised self-starter
• Excellent time-management skills, able to work effectively under pressure
• Excellent digital skills

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