openDemocracy is a global independent media outlet dedicated to challenging power and inspiring change.

Our recent journalism – for example on ‘dark money’, misinformation, women’s and LGBTIQ rights and COVID-19 – has triggered law change, parliamentary debate, criminal and regulatory investigations, action by public health bodies and much more.

Our stories attract widespread media coverage, including in The New York Times, Guardian, New Yorker, Daily Mail, CNN, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Al-Jazeera and many others across the world.

Reports to: Managing Editor

Manages: Roster of sub-editors

This is a new role in a fast-growing team. We’re looking for a creative and highly-organised news and features editor to help lift openDemocracy’s editing game: everything from ensuring that our headlines are sharper and our copy is crisper and more compelling, through to making our internal planning and production processes more efficient, transparent and streamlined. 

A key priority for openDemocracy is to help build a more inclusive international media ecosystem. We strongly encourage applications from all groups that are under-represented among media workers.

Key responsibilities:

• Co-ordinate the planning, editing, production and promotion of openDemocracy content across different timezones and projects
• Edit articles including news, features, investigations, comment and analysis
• Write curiosity-inducing and SEO headlines, source images and carry out other production tasks
• Commission, edit and write short news stories following up on our longer-form content
• Develop and co-ordinate a roster of freelance sub-editors
• Work closely with other editors to ensure that stories are clear, accurate and powerful
• Support editors to ensure that all published material is legally defensible, and that they have followed best practices
• Support regional editors, fellows and freelancers around the world (for whom English may be a second or third language) to shape stories that are clear and compelling
• Organise and/or lead training on editing and story framing
• Identify gaps and new opportunities to meet openDemocracy’s strategic goals through our content

We are looking for someone who:

• Wants to use journalism to inspire people to challenge power, and to engage in democratic debate
• Loves it when lots of people read, watch or listen to something they’ve worked on
• Wants their work to make a difference in the world
• Is keen to support new journalists from communities historically excluded from the media 
• Has excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy and sensitivity towards different experiences and backgrounds
• Is comfortable working through consensus and persuasion more often than command, but also exercises good judgement on enforcing deadlines and standards where necessary
• Is skilled at editing news, comment and narrative features
• Has at least five years’ experience of working in editing, sub-editing or news production and has spent at least one year in a comparable position

They will be someone who can:

• Spot the news angle that others miss
• Focus, shape and cut stories so that readers get the point, and then keep reading
• Write and rewrite headlines that grab readers’ eyes, hearts and minds – while also delivering on SEO and optimised performance across social
• Edit articles so that they make everyone care about the story
• Find pictures that draw people to a story
• Use a content management system to display content in ways which encourage people to keep reading, watching or listening to the end
• Cut through the noise on social media
• Get what they need out of audience analytics tools

and, even better:

• Edit punchy social media videos, or is keen to learn
• Speak another language fluently, in addition to English 

openDemocracy is committed to being an equal opportunities employer that values and respects the people who work with us.

We positively encourage applications from suitably experienced candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. 

This is a full-time position, but we are open to accommodating family-friendly hours and other caring responsibilities.

How to apply:

Click 'APPLY' now and include your CV and a personalised cover letter telling us why this is the job for you. Please also state your salary expectations.

If you have any questions regarding the role, please send them to recruitment@opendemocracy.net. 

Application deadline: Friday, 28 August 2020 at 4.00pm GMT.