The Social Media Editor helps guide the social strategy for NPR for each of its social platforms and evaluates the engagement and performance with the NPR audience. The role works closely with the newsroom’s Senior Social Media editor and Engagement Team on the strategy execution, focusing on growth and engagement on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and email newsletters. S/he also works with other social media leads from across NPR, including NPR Music, Programming (including podcasts), Marketing and sponsorship teams. S/he works with desks and shows to help facilitate an understanding of digital best practices and analyzes metrics to better serve the audience. S/he works to develop a digital network with NPR stations, developing workflows to amplify station content and sharing information with stations about new developments and products in the industry. S/he also assists with the planning and execution of special news coverage, packages and live events.
- Sets NPR’s social media strategy for each social platform with the Sr. Social Media Editor
- Works with NPR’s Engagement team to execute strategy
- Monitors NPR’s social media accounts for performance on each platform, working closely with Audience Insights team
- Works with shows, desks, verticals on projects to develop social media plans on major coverage areas or events
- Monitors social media platform developments and news and suggests ways NPR can use new platforms, tools and tactics
- Occasionally fills in to perform engagement editor roles posting content to NPR’s main social accounts and NPR.org
- Works closely with Digital Media and NPR Visuals teams to identify and develop social product needs for NPR platforms (NPR.org, NPR One, NPR apps) and social media tools for NPR staff.
- Assists in managing editorial relationship with social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc)
- Makes decisions on how NPR will play our big stories and breaking news on our main NPR social accounts, relays these plans to the audience engagement team who are often the ones who are executing
- Selects, manages and mentors the social media intern
- Pitches, writes and edits articles for NPR’s social media journalism blog, Curios
- Teach interns, reporters, and on occasion member stations how to use social media platforms and tools
- Provides training sessions for staff on social media best practices
- Occasionally represents NPR at industry workshops/conferences, station visits and in press interviews about NPR’s social media strategy
- Ensures that NPR social accounts are secure and manages cybersecurity threat response
Required Skills:
- At least five years of experience in daily journalism (digital, print and/or broadcast)
- At least one year of experience in independent editorial decision-making
- At least two years’ experience with managing branded social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
- Experience monitoring, extracting insights from and developing strategy using digital analytics and social media management tools, such as Chartbeat, Omniture, Google Analytics and Facebook Insights.
- Demonstrated skills in news writing, editing and headline writing
- Experience with creating social media visuals, including video and gifs
- Solid, independent news judgment
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure
- Strong understanding of journalistic ethics. Experience maintaining high journalistic ethics and standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness.
- Experience with intellectual property issues involved in publications generally and Web publications in particular
- Strong oral communication skills
- Ability to handle multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent time frames and changing priorities/conditions
- Ability to work independently and to effectively collaborate with a team
- Ability and willingness to work varied shifts as needed, including early mornings, nights, weekends and holidays. Some holiday shifts will be required.
- Proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public media system
- Ability and willingness to travel
- Ability to relocate. In the future, NPR may choose to transfer employees to other geographic locations. This position is a union position with SAG-AFTRA. Severance provisions of the SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement will apply should you choose not to accept a transfer.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in a large news organization with affiliate newsrooms
- Experience reporting, writing and/or editing international news
- Experience editing under daily breaking news conditions
NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development.