Over the past year, Nieman Reports has been covering the urgent challenges and opportunities of the coronavirus pandemic, the movement for racial justice, and the volatile media environment present in newsrooms. We are now looking for our next Assistant Editor to help bring diverse voices and perspectives to our stories and take our coverage of thought leadership in journalism further.
Published by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Nieman Reports is a website and quarterly print magazine that produces deeply reported feature stories as well as opinion columns offering insight into and analysis of the crucial issues and innovations in journalism today. Reporting to the foundation’s deputy curator, who is also editor of Nieman Reports, and working under the supervision of the senior editor, the Assistant Editor performs tasks associated with the website, print magazine and social media presence of Nieman Reports.
Job-Specific Responsibilities
- Facilitate digital and print editorial and production processes and prepare stories for publication, including proofreading, copyediting, and fact-checking as well as supervising freelance fact-checkers.
- Research and gather imagery to accompany stories, both online and in print, and share these with the print magazine designer. Handle licensing, permissions, and copyright issues, for digital and print.
- Publish content to Nieman Reports website using the WordPress CMS.
- Work with the foundation’s digital and audience engagement editor to implement an audience-focused digital strategy across Nieman Reports’ social media channels.
- Contribute reporting and writing to Nieman Reports.
- Write sharp digital and print headlines and other display copy, while keeping SEO in mind.
- Monitor Nieman alumni work and coordinate with them on news items for Nieman Reports.
- Assist the editor and senior editor with research and other tasks and occasionally help proofread other foundation communications.
- Additional tasks and some administrative duties as required.
Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications in order to be considered for this role:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years of journalism experience.
- Knowledge of InDesign is essential.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Collaborative and collegial mindset, idea generator, adept at simultaneously managing multiple projects and meeting multiple deadlines. Ability to work independently as well as a team member.
- Excellent copyediting skills. Previous experience with proofreading, fact-checking, and research preferred.
- Proficiency with Word, Excel, Internet-based research skills, WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), Tweetdeck, and/or Buffer.
- Working knowledge of printing and/or graphic design preferred.
- Excellent English grammar, spelling, and writing skills.
- Excellent written communication and organizational skills and commitment to the highest standards of journalistic accuracy and ethics.
Additional Information
During the current period of COVID-19 related restrictions, this position may start as a remote position, with the transition to onsite in Cambridge when the office reopens.
We continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 and lifting of restrictions. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility with our interview process. We will be conducting interviews virtually for selected candidates until further notice.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.